Epic snow/sleet storm puts area in deep freeze

A much-awaited snow and sleet event arrived Sunday, Jan. 14, around 3 p.m. As promised by forecasters it brought about six inches of sleet and snow followed by arctic-like temperatures that had the region watching the event and staying home for the most part.

Temperatures dipped to seven degrees overnight Monday and into Tuesday, with subfreezing temperatures that did not change until Sunday, Jan. 21, as a second event was forecast for Thursday, Jan. 18.

Last year’s snow and freeze fell February 2, 2023.

Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency Sunday, Jan. 14, in advance of the extreme weather event. The City of Holly Springs followed suit with a declaration of a state of emergency, Monday, Jan. 15.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation began applying emulsion to the highways Saturday Jan. 13.

In her radio broadcast Jan. 15, Holly Springs Mayor Sharon Gipson appealed to residents to conserve electricity and gas and to leave water dripping to keep pipes from freezing. The meeting of the Holly Springs Board of Aldermen had a truncated agenda and was conducted telephonically Tuesday, Jan. 16, dealing only with the consent agenda items and announcement of the appointment of Lori Shaw as public defender replacing Brooke Reeves of Oxford.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Breakfast and the parade and day of service was cancelled Monday as highways and streets were getting a treat of snowfall from Mother Nature.

Most roads and streets were passable by Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Treacherous road conditions were predicted by Marshall County Road and Bridge manager Mario Jeffries for Tuesday, Jan. 16. He said thawing snow would refreeze then roads would become extremely dangerous.

Area schools were closed beginning Monday, Jan. 15, as temperatures fell to 11 degrees, dropping to 9 overnight and remained closed through Tuesday, Jan. 23. Temperatures continued to dive, going to a low of 7 degrees in the wee hours of Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The Marshall County Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Families didn’t hibernate entirely, as many children enjoyed sledding and posting their pictures on Facebook.

It was not all gloom and doom, as one resident of Craft Street played in the snow with her dog and measured nine inches in her front yard.

“Good ole January,” said Kerry Brady, “throwing all its tricks at us. I enjoyed seeing the dog so excited about snow and shoveling the front walk was way better than the ice storms.”

Gipson asked Marshall County to help clear the snow from the streets as the city’s snow plow was broken.

Many residents were happily surprised that there were few outages in the Holly Springs Utility Department service area, but those who were out complained they could not get calls through to HSUD to report outages.

Residents living in the Snow Lake community reported outages, including those living on Howard Road and Lakeview Drive off Howard. Other outages included areas in the Lamar area. Residents who didn’t lose power praised HSUD that outages were few.

Winds out of the north were icy Tuesday the week before snowfall.

There were few reports of plant closings Tuesday. In Holly Springs, Parker Hannifin sent employees an email saying employees could come in to work on a voluntary basis Tuesday and those who opted not to come to work would not be issued attendance points in case of their absence.

Distribution of the Pigeon Roost News and The South Reporter were delayed for the January 16 week because of dangerous driving conditions and postal service employees did not deliver mail to its routes until Monday, Jan. 22. Trucks that deliver the mail to the post offices were not able to make their routes either for week of Tuesday, Jan. 16.