Trees tumble during storm

From staff reports

February 01, 2008 10:04 am

— Strong storms moving through Jones County created some traffic hazards Thursday, but for the most part, the county avoided major events.
“Trees, trees, and some trees,” Jones County Emergency Operations Center Assistant Director Marda Williams said. “We had numerous trees down in the southern part of the county.”
Segments of Interstate 59 and Highway 11, along with several other area roads, were closed due to fallen trees during the peak of the storm. But, most of the highways opened in time for the afternoon commute. There were tornado warnings for Wayne, Forrest, Perry, and other area counties, but Williams said the National Weather Service never placed Jones County under severe weather watches or warnings.
Jones County received more than an inch of rain in a very brief period of time Thursday with wind gusts upwards of 40 miles per hour.
The area can expect some more severe weather Monday. The National Weather Service is forecasting an outbreak of severe storms and possible tornadoes sometime late Monday or Tuesday.
There was a mixture of weather across the state Thursday, ranging from ice on roadways reported in the extreme north to heavy thunderstorms stretching southward to the coast.
The state Department of Transportation warned motorists traveling in Tishomingo County in northeast Mississippi that icy conditions were occurring on portions of roadways and bridges.
The Tishomingo County Sheriff’s Department said sleet had been falling in the area and there was a possibility of snow before the system moved into Alabama.
“We’re already getting wrecks,” a dispatcher said.
Some snow accumulation was possible in several northern counties as temperatures continued to drop during the afternoon and evening hours.
Elsewhere, bands of thunderstorms, some packing damaging winds and heavy rain, pushed across the state. In Jackson, skies were dark for much of the afternoon, with frequent lightning. At least two school districts reportedly closed early due to the weather.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.