Cold weather shelters to open in anticipation of low temperatures, precipitation
Harrison County has enacted a local state of emergency in preparation for potentially hazardous conditions. Report-to-work times for all non-essential county employees has been delayed until 10 a.m. Friday morning.
Hancock county school district schools have delayed start times two hours on Friday morning.
A winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service in New Orleans has been issued for Jackson, Harrison, Hancock and Pearl River Counties and the affects were expected to arrive Thursday evening.
According to the National Weather Service, there was a 20 percent chance of freezing rain Thursday night with temperatures in the low 30s.
The combination of precipitation and freezing temperatures may cause roads, bridges and overpasses to freeze..
According to Harrison County Emergency Management, the light accumulation of ice is most likely to occur between the hours of 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.
A chance for sleet enters the forecast on Friday morning. Lows will be in the 20s on Friday and Saturday night with any chances of precipitation cleared up.
Hancock and Harrison counties have opened up weather shelters ahead of the weekend’s anticipated cold temperatures.
Harrison County shelters in D’Iberville and Gulfport opened Thursday night and will remain open through Sunday. The D’Iberville location at Kenny Fournier Multipurpose Center on 10395 Automall Parkway opened at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
In Gulfport, the St. Peter’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church at 1909 15th St. opened at 4 p.m.
The Hancock County shelter in Kiln opened from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Thursday night through Sunday morning. The shelter is at the storm prep building at 18335 Mississippi 603.
