Story perspectives

Mississippi Declares Emergency as Severe Winter Storm Approaches

1/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declared a State of Emergency as a severe winter storm approaches, authorizing mobilization of state resources through January 27.
Colleges and universities, including Belhaven University and Mississippi College, canceled classes.
The National Weather Service warns of power outages and hazardous road conditions, especially in Northern Mississippi.
Low temperatures may drop to 10 degrees and ice accumulation is expected, with freezing rain and possible severe thunderstorms.

History

Historical Context

The Great Blizzard of 1888, which struck from March 11 to 14, paralyzed the northeastern United States, causing over 400 deaths and disrupting transportation across major cities like New York. This severe storm, with snowdrifts reaching 50 feet, highlighted the inadequacies of infrastructure and emergency preparedness, prompting significant changes in urban planning and weather forecasting to better handle extreme weather events.

1 of 2

Story summary

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declared a State of Emergency as a severe winter storm approaches, authorizing mobilization of state resources through January 27.
Colleges and universities, including Belhaven University and Mississippi College, canceled classes.
The National Weather Service warns of power outages and hazardous road conditions, especially in Northern Mississippi.
Low temperatures may drop to 10 degrees and ice accumulation is expected, with freezing rain and possible severe thunderstorms.

1 / 2