Mississippi Coast in the grip of freezing temperatures, with ice on roads & bridges

Tim Thorsen, Mary Perez
·4 min read
2

South Mississippians awoke Tuesday to freezing rain and sleet Tuesday, which made driving a challenge in parts of the area.

12:30 p.m.

Waveland is under a city boil water notice Tuesday, brought on by the cold weather Tuesday.

“It has been determined that a frozen transducer on the elevated water tower caused the entire water delivery system to go down this morning around 10 a.m.,” the city reported on Facebook Water was restored around 11:15 a.m. Public Works employees used a temporary fix to prevent other problems until a permanent correction can be made.

10:15 a.m. update

The I-110 bridge northbound from Biloxi to D’Iberville is open again, MDOT says. The worst of the icy conditions have passed as temperatures are near or above freezing.

9:24 update

I-10 westbound is open again at the Louisiana and Mississippi line, as South Mississippi thaws.

The I-110 bridge is closed northbound only because of ice on the metal grating of the bridge.

Temperatures Tuesday night into Wednesday are forecast to drop to around 20 degrees, but without precipitation.

The Sun Herald will update any weather news and school closings throughout the day..

9:20 a.m. update

The Winter Weather Advisory has expired for South Mississippi. Temperatures are rising slowly and are expected to be above freezing by 11 a.m. for most of the area.

8:55 a.m. update

Biloxi reports the I-110 bridge is open again southbound. It was closed briefly because of ice.

The Wilkes Bridge in Gulfport is open again after being closed for ice, but drivers are told to proceed with extreme caution on all bridges.

Ice accumulates on a car in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.
Ice accumulates on a car in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.

8:25 a.m. update

Mississippi Department of Transportation alerts that icy conditions have been reported on roads and bridges, and conditions will be hazardous, especially on area bridges and overpasses.

Multiple vehicle crashes on the Louisiana side of the East Pearl River Bridge has stopped traffic and all westbound lanes are blocked in Hancock County. MDOT reports at 8 a.m. it’s expected to take 2 hours to clear the highway.

Schools are closed, as are some libraries, many government offices and businesses.

The temperature is 28 degrees at the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, according to the National Weather Service, and at the Biloxi LIghthouse.

Plants are covered in plastic and tied up outside Poppy’s in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.
Plants are covered in plastic and tied up outside Poppy’s in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.

7 a.m. update

Biloxi sent out text alerts at 5:36 a.m. that the draw of the Popp’s Ferry and I-110 bridges were beginning to ice over.

The National Weather Service is reporting temperatures below freezing in Gulfport (31 degrees) and slightly above freezing in Biloxi (33 degrees).

Cold air blows off the water at Fort Bayou in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.
Cold air blows off the water at Fort Bayou in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.

Road closures/delays

  • The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department is reporting the closure of the East Pearl River Bridge. In a news release, the department reported: “If traveling I-10 west, all traffic is being diverted at Exit 2 (Stennis/Highway 607/90), as a multi car pile up has closed the stateline bridge. You can divert on Exit 13 (Highway 603) to Texas Flat Road and Highway 59.” MDOT estimates the road will be cleared around 10 a.m.

  • The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department is also reporting traffic delays due to a crash on the Bay St. Louis/Diamondhead bridge.

  • Accident reported at 8:14 a.m. westbound I-10 past Cedar Lake Road at Exit 44 in Biloxi.

  • An accident is reported in the westbound lane of I-10 at the Mississippi 605 exit in Gulfport at Lorraine Cowan Road.

Cold air blows off the water at Front Beach in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.
Cold air blows off the water at Front Beach in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.

The Mississippi Coast is under four weather alerts:

  • Winter Weather Advisory: In effect through 9 a.m., as the NWS is calling for freezing rain to fall across the three-county region. Forecasters are calling for “a light glaze” of ice across the Coast. Forecasters warn of very slippery sidewalks, with ice on roads and bridges being possible. Forecasters warn that hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

  • Freeze Warning: In effect through noon Tuesday, forecasters warn of conditions that “will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.”

  • Wind Chill Advisory: Beginning at 6 p.m. today and lasting through 10 a.m. Wednesday, forecasters are saying that dangerous conditions are expected, with wind chills reaching as low as 10 above zero.

  • Hard Freeze Warning: In effect from 6 p.m. today and lasting through 10 a.m. Wednesday, forecasters are warning of a hard freeze overnight. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 20 expected across the Coast, with frost and freeze conditions that can kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, and damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Ice accumulates on a palm tree at Front Beach in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.
Ice accumulates on a palm tree at Front Beach in Ocean Springs on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Freezing rain covered plants and roads with icy overnight as temperatures dipped below freezing.

National Weather Service forecasters are calling for cloudy conditions through mid morning, then a gradual clearing, with a high temperature near 38 degrees. Wind chill could reach as low as 9. Tonight’s forecast calls for temperatures to drop to 19 degrees, with wind chill values as low as 9.