A shallow cold airmass was in place across the region. Light precipitation that fell over this cold airmass resulted in light freezing rain on the evening of February 12th into the early morning hours of February 13th.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS JAN wrote it up.
A shallow cold airmass was in place across the region. Light precipitation that fell over this cold airmass resulted in light freezing rain on the evening of February 12th into the early morning hours of February 13th. Some accumulation occurred on bridges and overpasses.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 12, 4:39 PM CST, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Jackson MS
439 PM CST Fri Feb 12 2021
.DISCUSSION...
WV imagery this afternoon showing the mid level system in the
northwest Gulf of Mexico beginning to lift out to the northeast as
the next system moves into northwest Mexico. At the surface, a
shallow cold airmass remains entrenched over the area with the axis
of coldest air over the ArkLaMiss Delta region where sub-freezing
temperatures still exist.
Warm advection will continue to lift warm, moist air from the Gulf
northeastward up and over the shallow cold air mass producing
periods of light rain over the south with patchy drizzle over the
north. As temperatures cool this evening, the freezing line will
drop back to the south where some of the light drizzle and light
rain could begin to freeze. With the transient nature of the
expected precipitation and the light amounts, would only expect a
light glazing to occur. Have opted not to issue a Winter Weather
Advisory at the moment, preferring to wait until it materializes.
Instead, will put in the HWO.
Warm advection continues Saturday with light rains continuing over
the southeast. To the northwest, though limited warming will occur,
model data and bufr soundings are showing a surge of drier air in
the lower levels, setting the stage for the next winter event
later in the weekend. /GG/
Tomorrow Night through Friday:
While only small adjustments have been made to the weather
elements in the forecast through the end of this next week, it is
worth highlighting up front: Significantly cold temperatures and a mix
of winter weather threats will impact the ArkLaMiss region through
much of the week ahead. The current forecast continues to trend
toward a blend of deterministic model guidance for max
temperatures and min temperatures for most days, because the
shallow Arctic air mass is likely captured most fully in the
higher resolution guidance runs. MOS guidance and bias-corrected
output are of little value, and regional observations from back in
the Arctic air mass have proven it to be colder than the "average"
guidance has indicated. Also, when considering the cloudy weather,
on-and-off precipitation, and likelihood of some wintry
precipitation to impact the larger region, colder temperatures
are sure to verify. Temperatures will be less severely cold in the
Pine Belt region of southeast Mississippi, but even there may
drop below 20 degrees on the coldest night.
A Winter Storm Watch has been added to much of the area, including
southeastern Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, and all but far
eastern portions of central and southern Mississippi. The Watch
will begin Sunday afternoon, when chances for accumulating
freezing rain and sleet begin to increase in the area. Although
some impacts may develop during the day Sunday, the greatest
chances will be Sunday night into Monday as a shortwave trough
lifts warm, moist air over the shallow Arctic air mass. For now,
precipitation type remains a little uncertain due to a question of
how far north the "warm nose" will extend, but decent
precipitation rates could lead to either significant accumulations
of sleet or freezing rain either way. We will continue to refine
the forecast as the event progresses. If the boundary layer is
sufficiently cold, some flurries could mix in at times when
precipitation intensity drops off.
Some guidance continues to show a coastal low pressure system
develop along the cold front over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday
and lift it northeastward, and this should result in at least
some warming across portions of our area. Optimistically, even the
Delta could warm above freezing, but current model consensus has
max temperatures in Greenville around 32-34 degrees Wednesday.
Pine Belt locations could warm more substantially depending on
the track of the low, and a few thunderstorms could even develop.
Otherwise, the unwanted return of wintry weather is quick behind
the brief warm up. Arctic air in the region should get pulled back
into the area behind this low pressure system, and the
indications at this time are for an additional round of wintry
precipitation mix to affect the area around Thursday into Friday.
Cold temperatures in the 20 to 30 degree range could return for
Thursday night behind this system. Hopefully if trends hold true,
this late-week system should shove the Arctic air mass out of our
region. /NF/
&&
.AVIATION...
18Z TAF discussion: Poor flying conditions will exist through the
period as IFR/LIFR ceilings prevail. Fog, drizzle, and showers
will be possible mostly at the southern TAF sites. Patchy freezing
rain will be possible at the northern TAF sites./GG/
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Jackson 31 39 30 37 / 24 28 14 36
Meridian 35 43 33 42 / 44 44 14 19
Vicksburg 29 37 27 32 / 15 21 16 43
Hattiesburg 37 47 37 46 / 46 49 14 19
Natchez 28 39 29 35 / 23 24 16 42
Greenville 27 33 24 27 / 6 12 14 49
Greenwood 28 37 26 33 / 8 16 14 40
&&
.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...Winter Storm Watch from Sunday afternoon through late Monday
night for MSZ018-019-025>030-032>037-040>044-047>050-
053>055-059>062.
LA...Winter Storm Watch from Sunday afternoon through late Monday
night for LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026.
AR...Winter Storm Watch from Sunday afternoon through late Monday
night for ARZ074-075.
&&
NF/GGHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 437 PM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>030-032>038- 040>045-047>050-053-054-059>062-132245- Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland- Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Bolivar- Sunflower-Leflore-Grenada-Carroll-Montgomery-Webster-Clay-Choctaw- Oktibbeha-Washington-Humphreys-Holmes-Attala-Winston-Issaquena- Sharkey-Yazoo-Madison MS-Leake-Neshoba-Warren-Hinds-Rankin-Scott- Claiborne-Copiah-Jefferson-Adams-Franklin MS-Lincoln- 437 PM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, south central Mississippi, and southwest Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Saturday ICE ACCUMULATION THREAT...Limited TIMING...Tonight A few periods of light freezing rain and light freezing drizzle with light icing of bridges and overpasses could occur at times from this evening into Saturday morning. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday night through Thursday As arctic air pushes into the region this weekend into early next week, the threat for dangerous cold and winter weather will increase, especially over western and northern portions of the area. We continue to be confident in a winter weather event occurring over the region in the Monday to Monday night time frame with ice and sleet accumulation looking more likely. The coldest temperatures and lowest wind chill readings will most likely be from late Monday into Tuesday following the winter weather system. Persons in the ArkLaMiss region and central Mississippi should continue to monitor closely updates to this developing winter weather and dangerous cold event. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/2.png) (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/3.png) .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations is not expected through next Thursday. MSZ031-039-046-051-052-055>058-063>066-072>074-132245- Lowndes-Noxubee-Kemper-Newton-Lauderdale-Simpson-Smith-Jasper- Clarke-Lawrence-Jefferson Davis-Covington-Jones-Marion-Lamar- Forrest- 437 PM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Mississippi, east central Mississippi, northeast Mississippi, south central Mississippi, and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Saturday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday night through Thursday As arctic air pushes into the region this weekend into early next week, the threat for dangerous cold and winter weather will increase, especially over western and northern portions of the area. We continue to be confident in a winter weather event occurring over the region in the Monday to Monday night time frame with ice and sleet accumulation looking more likely. The coldest temperatures and lowest wind chill readings will most likely be from late Monday into Tuesday following the winter weather system. Persons in the ArkLaMiss region and central Mississippi should continue to monitor closely updates to this developing winter weather and dangerous cold event. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/2.png) (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/3.png) 20 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... *ICE ACCUMULATION* Extreme...Roads impassable and widespread power outages likely. Significant...Dangerous travel conditions and numerous power outages possible. Elevated...Difficult travel conditions and sporadic power outages possible. Limited...Light icing of bridges and overpasses. ...USEFUL WEATHER WEB PAGES (URLS)... NWS JAN Home page... https://www.weather.gov/jan Stay Aware, Stay Safe NWS JAN Briefing Page... https://www.weather.gov/jan/safe Latest Weather Briefing... https://www.weather.gov/jan/weather_briefing Find NWS JAN on Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Twitter... @NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Youtube... https://www.youtube.com/user/NWSJacksonMiss ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR WINTER WEATHER ISSUES... Current Winter Weather... https://www.weather.gov/jan/safe_Winter Day 1 through 3 Winter Threats... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/winter_wx.shtml Winter Impact Discussion... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/qpfhsd.html
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1231 PM CST FRI FEB 12 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM FREEZING RAIN 5 SSE YAZOO CITY 32.80N 90.37W
02/12/2021 E0.01 INCH YAZOO MS PUBLIC
LIGHT ICING WAS REPORTED IN YAZOO COUNTY,
WHERE GLAZE FORMED ON PLANTS.
0630 AM FREEZING RAIN 2 SE YAZOO CITY 32.84N 90.39W
02/12/2021 E0.01 INCH YAZOO MS BROADCAST MEDIA
LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATING ON GUTTERS RELAYED BY
BROADCAST MEDIA.
0630 AM FREEZING RAIN 1 W REDWOOD 32.48N 90.83W
02/12/2021 E0.01 INCH WARREN MS EMERGENCY MNGR
LIGHT ICING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES AROUND
WARREN COUNTY.
0845 AM FREEZING RAIN CASEYVILLE 31.67N 90.66W
02/12/2021 E0.01 INCH LINCOLN MS EMERGENCY MNGR
LIGHT ICING WAS OCCURRING IN PINE TREES
AROUND CASEYVILLE. NOTHING ON THE ROADS.
0630 AM FREEZING RAIN GREENWOOD 33.52N 90.19W
02/12/2021 E0.01 INCH LEFLORE MS EMERGENCY MNGR
LIGHT ICING ON OVERPASSES AROUND THE COUNTY.
0629 AM FREEZING RAIN LEXINGTON 33.12N 90.05W
02/12/2021 E0.01 INCH HOLMES MS EMERGENCY MNGR
LIGHT ICING ON A BRIDGE IN TCHULA.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain and freezing drizzle resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county. Accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch occurred on the Mississippi State University campus.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
Light freezing rain resulted in icing on bridges and roadways in the county.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, February 2021
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 968636, 968638, 968679, 968640, 968642, 968698, 968699, 968681, 968687, 968693, 968701, 968697.