JACKSON, Miss. – A blast of winter weather pushed across the South on Sunday, coating bridges and roads with snow, sleet and freezing rain and causing hundreds of flight cancellations.
The governors of Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia issued emergency declarations. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley said workers had readied snow and salt trucks to help clear icy roads, and he asked all residents to stay home Sunday night and Monday unless necessary.
Mississippi officials warned motorists early Sunday that ice already was accumulating on roads and bridges in many counties, creating hazardous driving conditions.
The National Weather Service posted winter storm warnings from East Texas to the Carolinas.
Daniel Lamb, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, Miss., said heavy snow had fallen Sunday afternoon from Arkansas to North Mississippi. Other areas of the South had freezing rain and sleet.
Forecasters expected the most extreme conditions in Mississippi and northern Louisiana overnight with the possibility of heavy ice accumulation in places.
“And since it’s going to be pretty cold over the next few days, we could see whatever accumulates sticking around for a few days,” Lamb said.
Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas were expecting icy weather overnight.
Hundreds of flights were canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Delta Air Lines canceled 330 flights starting about 8 p.m. Sunday and another 1,400 flights Monday. AirTran Airways canceled 14 flights for Sunday and another 270 for Monday, spokesman Christopher White said.
Both airlines are allowing passengers whose flights are canceled to change them without fees.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport spokesman David Magana said 200 flights, or about a quarter of the schedule, were canceled in anticipation of the weather.
In Eastern Tennessee, the Weather Service said 4 to 6 inches of snow could fall by Sunday evening, with the heaviest snow falling early today.
In Alabama, some churches canceled Sunday night services as the wintry system moved into the state from Mississippi.
Officials closed a bridge over the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa until workers could spread sand across a sheet of ice that formed quickly on the road.
Numerous schools called off classes for today in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Auburn University students must go somewhere other than campus to watch the Tigers play in the championship bowl game today. The university has canceled all viewing parties and other events planned as the state prepares for severe winter weather.
“We face a serious storm that will have an impact all across Alabama,” Riley said in a news release. “With the accumulations of ice that are projected to begin tonight, motorists should stay off roads during these conditions.”
All state government offices will be closed today, and most local governments are closing their doors for the day.
Riley said the 7,000 Alabama National Guardsman on duty for training this weekend are helping the state prepare for the wintry blast.
Georgia was expecting up to 6 inches of snow as the powerful winter storm moved into the state Sunday night. Forecasters said the front also could bring sleet and freezing rain lasting into Tuesday.
Across the state, cities readied for the weather Sunday: School districts and colleges canceled classes, salt and sand trucks were brought out and residents flocked to grocery stores for last-minute provisions. The Georgia Supreme Court cancelled oral arguments scheduled for today.
The Georgia Department of Transportation brought in additional salt, sand and gravel from south Georgia, spokeswoman Teri Pope said.