the rest of tonight’s forecast and snow estimates around the area.  This information comes straight from the National Weather Service.

HEAVY BAND OF SNOW CONTINUES TO SIT OVER EASTERN MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY IN ARKANSAS…LAUDERDALE…TIPTON…SOUTHERN
DYER…HAYWOOD…AND CROCKETT COUNTIES IN TENNESSEE. SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 8 INCHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THIS AREA. THE
BAND WILL BEGIN TO SHIFT SOUTH AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES TOWARD THE
SOUTHEAST. WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE A FOOT OR MORE BY THE
TIME THE SNOW IS DONE IN THESE COUNTIES. EVEN NORTHERN SHELBY
COUNTY HAS SEEN UP TO 6 INCHES. AS THIS BAND SAGS
SOUTH…LOCATIONS LIKE BARTLETT AND ARLINGTON COULD SEE FINAL
AMOUNTS AROUND 9 INCHES. HAVE UPDATED SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN THE
ZONES ALREADY AND WILL BE REFRESHING WSW SHORTLY. WILL PROBABLY
NEED AT LEAST ONE MORE UPDATE TO ZONES ONCE PRECIP CHANGES OVER TO
SNOW ACROSS NE MS.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 AM.  Here’s a graphical representation from the National Weather Service.

Snow will continue on and off for the next several hours.  There will be major issues on the roadways so stay off the streets if at all possible.  If you do have to get out, allow plenty of extra room between you and the next car.  Stay warm and be careful

He was right…

You know the nearer your destination

The more you’re slip slidin’ away.

Heading home I saw a couple of vehicles that had slid onto a grassy median.  No injuries or dings thankfully.

Be careful if you must travel, folks.  John‘s up at 5:00 with a look at the whole situation.

Keep those pics and videos coming to My5!!!!

We’re getting verification of sleet in Shelby County at this hour.  The line of consistent changeover from rain is located on a line from Wynee to near Blytheville, Arkansas with snowfall a bit further north & northwest.

About the surface low…it has quickly eased off toward the Alabama/Georgia state line, depriving us of northeasterly winds often vital for optimum snow development.  Although this may lessen the total accumulation, I still believe the upper low churning away over southern Missouri still has potential to make a very noticeable impact ahead of and upon its arrival.

Be sure to check out John and his analysis on ACTION NEWS 5 @ 5, 6 & 10pm.

This is WMCTV.com’s Jason Plank, hijacking the Weather Blog for a quick second to post a link to a weather web cam. 

I’ve placed this camera outside my home in Southaven, Mississippi.  If we get any snow here, you’ll hopefully be able to see it: 

EDIT: Thanks to everyone who took a look!  I’ve taken the camera down because it’s beginning to get dark out.  That’s why you’re seeing a horrifying view of my face instead!

I’m glad to say we did end up getting to see a bit of snowfall today.  If you were able to take a look – thanks for watching!

Accumulation today?  For real?

It is certainly possible.  Several elements necessary to facilitate snowfall look to be falling into place.  Early estimates could see us receiving 2-4 inches of snow in the Mid-South.  Where will it stick?  Primarily to yards and elevated surfaces (including car roofs).

The bottom panels of this computer model illustrate what may be happening around noon today. They concur with our theory here that we’ll see a changeover from rain to snow near lunchtime in northeastern Arkansas and the Missouri bootheel.

From there, activity is expected to move to the southeast toward the Memphis metro area.

I am preparing for the morning newscast, which starts at 8 a.m. After catching our newscast, please check back with us here and at wmctv.com for the latest updates throughout the day.

An upper level low with move through the Mid-South tomorrow bringing a burst of cold air.  Plenty of moisture will also be wrapping around the low combining with the cold to produce snow.  The latest model runs are all in agreement that snow will fall over a most of the Action news 5 coverage area late tomorrow afternoon and into the evening hours.  Snowfall amounts will average 1 to 2 inches however there may be some areas that get as much as two to four inches of snow.  That heavier snowfall line will extend from Shelby County to the Missouri Bootheel primarily along and slightly west of I-55.  Roads should be in good shape despite the snow given the fact that temperatures have been well above freezing this week.  Snow accumulation will be mainly confined to grassy areas and elevated objects including vehicles.  There may be some icing on bridges and overpasses late Saturday night and early Sunday morning as overnight lows will fall into the twenties.  Sunshine will return Sunday but cool temperatures will linger as afternoon highs are expected to only reach the low to mid forties.  Next week should remain dry and gradually warm each day reaching the upper sixties to lower seventies by the end of next week.

As I write this post (it’s 1:45 am) the Mid-South is still under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch that is slated to expire at 3:oo am.  The map I am posting below comes from the Storm Prediction Center. (http://www.spc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlook/)

During Severe weather events the SPC will hone in on specific areas that may possess an elevated risk for Watches and or Warnings.  They label this a Mesoscale discussion.  Another word for Meso would be Micro.  In essence, it’s a small area relative to a large region, say states East of the Mississippi River for example.  It essentially gives us a “heads up” as to what we can expect next.  Here’s where they are looking right now.  Notice most of the area is to our North.  Tin Van Horn and I are carefully tracking the storms and we will bring you the latest details as they become available.

Until 3 AM.  Memphis and Shelby County included in the watch.

Counties in pink under the watch

The National Weather Severice has put together a list of things to have on hand and to keep in mind when severe weather is in the forecast.  Take a look at this basic list and see what you can do to prepare yourself and your family in the event of severe weather.      

• Disaster Supply Kit
  You should store your emergency supplies as close to your shelter as possible.
• Battery Operated Weather Radio
  You will want to be able to monitor the latest information directly from your National Weather Service.
• A Map to Track Storms
  You will need to be able to track the progress of the storm. Since warning texts include county names, a county outline map of your area is a great thing to keep handy. You might also keep a state highway map, which includes most of the cities and towns referred to in NWS warnings and statements. The NWS Norman provides a handout with a county map, which can be downloaded in pdf format.
• Battery Operated TV and/or Radio
  This will allow you to monitor news and severe weather information. Radios that offer TV audio can be helpful. Also, many TV stations simulcast their broadcasts on AM or FM radio stations.
• Shoes
  This will be very important if your home is damaged and you must walk across broken glass or other debris!
• Indentification
  You may need identification to move around in the area should significant damage occur.
• Your Car Keys
  If your car is drivable, you will need the keys to be able to use it. It’s a good idea to keep an extra set in your shelter area.
• Cell Phone
  If there is phone service, you will certainly want your phone. However, remember that cell phone service may be interrupted after a tornado or other disaster!

Other Things To Consider

If you have a safe room or other shelter area, you might consider storing important papers and other irreplaceable items in the shelter if space permits.

Check and replace batteries in your weather radio, flashlights and other devices in your safety kit often, preferably twice a year. Do this at the same time you set clocks back/ahead in the spring and fall, and when you replace smoke detector batteries. Check you disaster supplies kit often, as well to maintain fresh food and water, etc. Remember that your disaster supplies kit could also be critical in other types of disasters, including winter storms, etc.

Make sure you have something to cover up with. Pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, a mattress could help to protect you from falling/flying debris. Above all protect your head, neck and upper body. Wear a helmet (bicycle, football, baseball, motorcycle, hard hat, etc) if you have one. If there’s room, lie flat and cover up. Otherwise, get as low to the ground as possible and make as small a target as possible.

Unfortunately, there are no safety rules – absolute safety facts that will keep you safe 100% of the time. Instead, we offer guidelines for personal safety. The vast majority of tornadoes are weak and don’t last very long. By following the guidelines included in this document, you and your family can survive a tornado. These tornado safety guidelines should reduce – but will not totally eliminate – your chances of being seriously injured or killed in a tornado.

The good news is that you can survive most tornadoes. The key to survival is planning – knowing what you need to do to be safe before a tornado threatens.