Historic snowstorm is melting in South MS. But when will temperatures finally warm up?

The snow is vanishing.

But the arctic blast that transformed the Mississippi Coast this week will endure for two more freezing mornings.

The ice persisted early Thursday, leaving snow on the ground and slippery and dangerous conditions on at least some areas of Interstate 10. But highs Thursday are in the mid 40s. It will freeze Thursday night, with lows in the 20s, then warm to the 40s on Friday. Then it will freeze again. But by sunny Saturday morning, with highs in the 50s and lows in the upper 30s, the Mississippi Coast will thaw for good.

“Finally,” said Christopher Bannan, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Slidell, “by Wednesday we may see a few highs near 70.”

Winter, as the Mississippi Coast usually knows it, will return to normal by Sunday, with a slight chance of afternoon showers and highs in the lower 60s. Sunday night lows will drop only to the mid 40s. And Monday will be cloudy and possible rainy, with highs in the 60s again.

More snow coverage: South MS had same temperature as Antarctica, and more snow than Anchorage, Alaska

The last two freezing nights on Thursday and Friday could ice any water that stays on the roads. Forecasters are asking drivers to stay cautious, especially in shaded areas that may be slower to melt. The overnight freezes will force residents to keep dripping faucets and covering exposed pipes. Morning temperatures also will stay dangerous for anyone who stays outside too long.

The snow will probably be gone by Friday.

“You’re going to get really good melting today,” Bannan said. “You’ll probably see just about all of it gone by tomorrow afternoon.”

The National Weather Service cannot rule out more cold fronts through February.

But “getting anything like this would be highly unlikely,” Bannan said. “To get the amount of snow we got over a large area is quite historic.”

This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 8:54 AM.