Winter Storm Watch issued for Mid-South: Dangerous snow, ice, and bitter cold expected

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Mid-South, warning of a “potentially historic” winter event. Wintry precipitation is expected to begin Friday afternoon and continue through Sunday evening, bringing a dangerous mixture of snow, sleet, and ice to the region.

The watch is in effect from 12 p.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Sunday, covering East Arkansas, North Mississippi, Southeast Missouri, and West Tennessee. Forecasters warn that significant disruptions to travel and infrastructure are likely, with power outages expected in areas seeing heavy ice accumulation.

Dangerous Cold and Life-Threatening Wind Chills

Beyond the frozen precipitation, an intense arctic air mass will settle over the area. Residents should prepare for:

• Prolonged Sub-Freezing Temperatures: Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for 72+ hours, lasting from Friday afternoon through the middle of next week.
• Extreme Wind Chills: Dangerously cold wind chills ranging from single digits to sub-zero will prevail throughout the weekend.

Projected Accumulations and Uncertainty

While confidence is high that the region will see an impactful storm, the NWS notes that exact totals remain uncertain until further guidance is released Thursday. Current projections include:

• North of the TN/MS Line: Total snow and sleet accumulations greater than 3 inches; ice accumulations up to one-quarter of an inch.
• South of the TN/MS Line: Total snow and sleet accumulations greater than 2 inches; ice accumulations exceeding one-quarter of an inch.

DeSoto County Emergency Guidance

Officials in DeSoto County are urging residents to take immediate precautions to ensure safety, highlighting the “Three Ps”: People, Pets, and Pipes.

• People: Ensure family and neighbors have adequate food, medicine, and a way to stay warm.
• Pets: Bring pets indoors. If they must stay outside, provide a warm shelter and a non-frozen water source.
• Pipes: Cover outside faucets and locate your interior water shut-off valve. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to circulate warm air and allow faucets to drip cold water to prevent freezing.

Authorities advise residents to limit travel and stay home if possible. Do not call 911 for power outages; instead, contact your local utility company directly.

Southaven city officials Wednesday announced that its Warming Center at the Southaven Safe Room will be open, starting on Friday, Jan. 23 at 12 noon.

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