Winter Weather in Walthall, Mississippi

Nearby mesonet observations showed temperatures never rose above freezing on the 15th. Around 6pm, radar showed precipitation beginning across the county. Off and on freezing rain persisted for about 7 hours. Based on KMCB ASOS measuring 0.27 of freezing rain and radar reflectivity depicting similar activity over Walthall County, it can be assumed freezing rainfall amounts were relatively similar over that area.

A very amplified longwave upper level trough situated west of the Mississippi River Valley drove an arctic airmass well into the Gulf of Mexico. It's position, west of the Mississippi River, is common for previous events of very cold airmasses and frozen precipitation locally. Temperatures locally began to plummet from west to east on the evening of January 15th and into the morning hours of January 16th. A layer of mid-level of moisture riding over the colder surface was able to precipitate to the ground. Although temperatures aloft were too warm to support snow, subfreezing surface temperatures resulted in freezing rain and some sleet, even as far south as coastal Louisiana. Accumulation amounts ranged from a slight glazing to around one quarter of an inch. All local interstates, many state highways and local roads with bridges were shutdown due to icy roadways.