Cold/Wind Chill — Itawamba, Mississippi

2026-01-27 · Itawamba, Mississippi

Event narrative

Minimum wind chill of 3F recorded.

Wider weather episode

While the wintry precipitation created the initial impacts, it was the multi-day period of subfreezing temperatures that prolonged and, in many cases, worsened those impacts. The lack of meaningful thawing effectively extended the storm's footprint from a 2'3 day event into a nearly week-long hazard across north Mississippi. Limited melting during the day and refreezing each night kept roads hazardous well beyond the end of precipitation, especially on secondary roads and bridges. Prolonged freezing temperatures increased the risk of burst pipes, particularly in homes and buildings without adequate insulation or during extended power outages. Ice-laden trees and infrastructure remained stressed in subfreezing conditions, slowing restoration efforts and prolonging outages in affected areas. The duration of cold posed risks for hypothermia and exposure, especially for vulnerable populations.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1313094. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.