OK, so bridges and interstate ramps closed today, icy conditions made driving hazardous, and school was suspended. What can we expect tonight and Thursday?
“Fortunately, we’re not expecting to see precipitation like we saw today, and much of the ice is thawing on the bridges,” said Biloxi Emergency Manager Michelle Crowley, “but the fact is, we are going to see temperatures below freezing in the next few hours and we could have some of the very same issues.”
Icy conditions forced the closing of three bridges – the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which links Biloxi and Ocean Springs, and the Cedar Lake and Lorraine Road bridges – from morning to mid-afternoon today, and some ramps off Interstate 110 were also barricades because of hazardous conditions. Coast Electric, the utility with customers north of the Bay of Biloxi, asked residents to reduce power usage to avoid rolling blackouts.
Biloxi Public Schools did not open for classes today, but, at this writing, school leaders said they planned to resume classes Thursday. Parents would be notified of any scheduling changes through the school district’s notification system.
Crowley said first responders in Biloxi saw a spike in traffic accidents because of slippery roads.
“With the temperatures reaching freezing tonight, we may be forced to close bridges again if conditions become too hazardous,” Crowley said. “We continue to ask people to limit travel if possible, and if they must drive to please use extra caution. Patches of black ice are likely, especially on bridges.”
Temperatures are not expected to increase until Thursday afternoon.
Icy news and notes
Updated forecast: To see the current conditions and forecast for this evening and the remainder of the week, click here.
City info line: The city’s info line was updated earlier this morning. To hear the advisories, which will be updated as needed, call 228-435-6300.
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