CLARKSDALE, Miss.–It’s out with the storms and in with the cold. Temperatures in the northern Delta counties may not get past freezing for highs some days this week, with lows into the lower 20s, or possibly into the teens.
“Afternoon highs less than 40 degrees, with wind chills into the mid teens,” said David Cox, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service.
He said that kind of cold can be dangerous if you stay out in it for too long.
“This could cause hypothermia with prolonged exposure, danger to exposed pipes,” he said. “Make sure to check on neighbors, your family, your pets.”
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Malary White said you should make sure any exposed pipes are wrapped.
“When temperatures drop, allow pipes to drip to prevent freezing,” she said.
If you’re struggling to stay warm and decide to use a space heater, she said you should be extra cautious, since they can be a dangerous way to provide heat.
“Never plug a space heater into an extension cord and place it on a flat surface at least three feet away from anything that can burn,” she said.
Snow or ice are possible at the end of the week and the Weather Service is monitoring that situation closely. The northern counties have the highest probability for some accumulation. But, it is tough to predict more than a couple of days out.
