Will MS see snow or icy weather this winter? Here’s what Farmers’ Almanac and NWS predicts
It’s finally November.
With the new month comes thoughts of the upcoming holiday season as well as winter weather. Will we be trudging through rain on Black Friday or celebrating a white Christmas?
Of course, winter doesn’t officially begin until Dec. 21, but it’s never too early to prepare for the season ahead, especially if it’s going to be a snowy, frigid one.
So, will Mississippi see snow and ice this winter?
What Farmers’ Almanac says
With the El Niño still in full swing, the Farmers’ Almanac predicts a very cold winter ahead.
According to the almanac, “Cold temperatures should prevail throughout the country and bring snow, sleet, and ice.”
In the South specifically, the almanac predicts a wet winter with average temperatures. However, Southerners are advised to bundle up and be ready because some frost may come earlier this winter season.
In fact, the Farmers’ Almanac used three words to describe the South’s upcoming winter weather: “fair, cold; frosts.”
What the National Weather Service says
The National Weather Service (NWS) predictions for the winter season in the South are about the same as the predictions of the Farmers’ Almanac.
Let’s take a look:
The NWS climate prediction is broken down into seasonal temperature and seasonal precipitation forecasts.
The seasonal temperature forecast map predicts average temperatures for the South and the precipitation forecast predicts above average rain.
So, keep your coats and your rain boots near this winter.
Winter weather prep tips
Where there’s winter weather, there’s often a winter storm. Here’s how to prepare:
Staying safe:
- Do not use generators, gas or charcoal grills indoors.
- Never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented properly.
- Never heat your house with a gas oven.
- Never run a generator indoors, in an enclosed space such as a basement, or near a window.
- Do not warm your car up in a closed garage.
- If your garage is attached to your house, close the door to the house while you warm up the car.
Staying healthy:
- If power is out for less than two hours, food in your refrigerator and freezer will be safe to eat. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold longer.
- After two hours, a freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours.
- After two hours, pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.
- Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water. Watch for specific boil water alerts in your area.
- If you are under a boil-water alert, do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula. If possible, use baby formula that does not need to have water added.
- Boiling water, when practical, is the preferred way to kill harmful bacteria and parasites. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will kill most organisms.
Outdoor Safety:
- Watch for signs of hypothermia (uncontrolled shivering, slow speech, memory loss, stumbling, sleepiness, extreme tiredness).
- Watch for signs of frostbite: Feeling of “pins and needles” followed by numbness (no feeling). Skin may freeze hard and look white. When thawed out, skin is red and painful. Very bad frostbite may cause blisters or gangrene (black, dead tissue).
- If you think you have frostbite or hypothermia, don’t eat or drink anything containing caffeine or alcohol – they can worsen your symptoms.
- Drink warm liquids that do not contain caffeine or alcohol. (alcoholic drinks cause your body to lose heat more quickly).
In Your Car:
- Listen for travel warnings.
- Avoid unnecessary trips in order to keep off icy roads. Ice may be more likely on bridges; plan your route to avoid bridges when possible.
- Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Ask them to notify help if you are late.
- Check and restock emergency supplies in your car before you leave.
- Never pour water on your windshield to remove ice or snow; the windshield may shatter.
Make an Emergency Kit with:
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable food
- First aid
- More about making a disaster preparation kit
Make a Family Communication Plan with:
- Plan whom to call
- Plan where to meet
- Make copies of phone numbers and important information
- More about making a family plan
What do you think about the forecast? Are you hoping for a mild winter or snowy winter in the South this year? Email me and let me know at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
