A rare early December heavy snow event unfolded across the south starting late on the 10th and really ramping up on the 11th. An upper level low deepened across the northern gulf and produced a swath of snow from southeast Texas, Louisiana, and into Mississippi. This was an unusual snow because temperatures ranged from 32 to 35 degrees where the snow fell. The upper low provided its own cold air and that was enough to allow rain to change to snow, especially where precipitation was heavy. Snowfall amounts ranged from a trace to 9 inches across our service area. The heaviest snow fell within an axis from McComb to Morton Mississippi. Areas that did receive more than 2 or 3 inches had trees and power lines down from the weight of the snow which resulted in many power outages. Roads were slick as well because of the fast accumulation and slushy conditions. Numerous accidents occurred from the hazardous road conditions.

Heavy Snow in COPIAH, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 06:25:00 to 11-DEC-08 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Sleet began just around 630am quickly changing over to snow before 7 across the eastern half of the county. By 830 moderate had begun to fall across the area with accumulations quickly adding up especially across portions of the county. Around 9 over 2 inches had occurred with moderate to heavy snow still falling with some locations quickly approaching 3 inches by 930. By 11 the community of Hazlehurst in the central part of the county had reported 3 inches with the town of crystal springs further to the north just over 2 inches by noon. Moderate to heavy snow continued to fall across the eastern half of the county for another hour with all winter precipitation coming to an end around 115pm. Total accumulations ranged from a trace in the west to over 4 inches across the eastern half of the county. Large tree branches and some trees came down due to the weight of the snow.

Ice Storm in ADAMS, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 05:33:00 to 11-DEC-08 08:15:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Rain began to change over to sleet around 533am. Light sleet than continued till shortly after 8 before changing back over to rain. Between 720 and 8 light snow mixed with sleet at times with only a few tenths accumulations across southern portions of the county. Total sleet accumulations of up to an inch were reported across the county.

Heavy Snow in LEAKE, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 07:37:00 to 11-DEC-08 20:27:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

As of 920 am the event source reported sleet changing
over to light snow. By 1130 am he reported that the snow had accumulated to one half inch and the snowfall intensity had increased. By 101 pm the public reported
that an estimated 3 inches had fallen three miles south of madden. The snow intensity gradually decreased during
the afternoon and exited the region by 830 pm.

Heavy Snow in SCOTT, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 07:15:00 to 11-DEC-08 21:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sleet began to mix with rain around 715 in the Morton and Forest communities. Light rain, sleet and then snow continued for the next few hours before completely changing over to snow around 945. Light to moderate snow would continue to fall for over 2 hours with accumulations approaching 2 inches right around 12pm. Heavy snow then began with accumulations quickly piling up. By 1245 an observation just to the southwest of Morton reached 5 inches in snow accumulation. Moderate to Heavy snow would continue through 230 across portions of the county. By 130 the southwestern half of the county had reported close to 5 inches in many locations but the northeastern half had just started to get into the more moderate to heavy snow. This caused communities like Hillsboro and Sebastopol to go from just over an inch around 145 to up to 6 inches by 230pm. At that time the intensity of the snow decreased and all winter precipitation had moved out of the county by 330pm. Numerous trees, tree branches and powerlines came down due to the heavy wet snow.

Heavy Snow in JASPER, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 06:15:00 to 11-DEC-08 20:11:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

By 630 am sleet changed over to light snow flurries. The intensity of the snow increased by mid morning. By 11 am the event source reported an estimated 1.5 inches of snow on the ground at Bay Springs. At the same time the Rose Hill Post Office reported an estimated one inch on the ground. At 208 pm an estimated two inches was noted on the ground. The intensity of the snow fall decreased by 6 pm. It exited the region by after 8 pm.

Heavy Snow in LAWRENCE, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 06:25:00 to 11-DEC-08 19:53:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sleet began around 625am quickly mixing with snow with light accumulations occurring after 7. Moderate snow began to fall around 9  with accumulations approaching 2 inches by 915. By 10 moderate to heavy snow began to fall across county with accumulations quickly reaching 4 inches by 1035 around the town of Jayess and then over 5 inches in Monticello before 11. Moderate to heavy snow continued to fall across the county through 1pm before snow began to mix with sleet again around 130. All winter precipitation came to an end just before 2pm with accumulations ranging from 6 to 10 inches across the county. Department of Transportation workers reported between 8 to 10 inches around the New Hebron community. Large branches and powerlines were brought down by the wet snow and one tree fell on a house.

Heavy Snow in MARION, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 05:40:00 to 11-DEC-08 20:20:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Light sleet changed over to light snow flurries by 610 am. Columbia measured a half inch as of 632 am. As of 915 am Columbia had measured around two inches of snow on the ground. There was also some power outages reported with some fallen limbs. By 11 am an estimated
4 to 5 inches of snow was reported by the Columbia police department. As of 1230 pm reports of 3 to
6 inches was noted across the county. Snowfall intensities decreased after 1 pm. The snow exited the
region by 430 pm.

Heavy Snow in COVINGTON, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 05:55:00 to 11-DEC-08 19:31:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

At approximately 530 am sleet changed to light snow...then the ntensity increased after sunrise. The event source at 8 am reported an estimated 1.5 inches of snow in portion of the county. The public reported
an estimated 2 inches in Seminary at 11 am. At the same time the Collins Police Department reported 2 inches. At 208 pm the broadcast media reported a measured 4.5 inches of snow in Collins. At 300 pm the public reported 3.5 inches in Mount Olive. The snow intensity decreased
by 6 pm and exited the county 730 pm.

Heavy Snow in LINCOLN, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 05:50:00 to 11-DEC-08 11:36:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Sleet began around 550am quickly changing over to snow around 6 with snow accumulating around 630. By 754am around 1.5 inches had already accumulated across portions of the county. Snow continued to accumulate over Lincoln county and by 930 measurements greater than 3 inches had occurred around Brookhaven and Bogue Chitto. Large tree branches and powerlines began to come down by that time as well due to the weight of the snow causing power outages. Around 950 heavy snow began to fall with accumulations quickly adding up to over 5 inches in portions of Lincoln county. Snow and sleet began to come to an end around 1130 with total accumulations across the county ranging from 4 to 10 inches.

Heavy Snow in NEWTON, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 08:45:00 to 11-DEC-08 21:07:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Sleet converted over to light snow by 9 am. County Law
Enforcement reported as of noon anywhere from a half to
one inch were noted over the western portions of the county around Newton. The event source reported icing
on highway 492 from Seabastopol to Prospect as of 147 pm.
He also reported measured two inches of snow at Conehatta as of 253 pm. Also reported an inch of snow at Decatur at that time. The intensity of the snowfall decreased for the rest of the afternoon and exited the
county by 9 pm.

Winter Weather in JONES, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 05:57:00 to 11-DEC-08 19:21:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Light sleet changed over to light snow by 630 am. Got a
first report from the post office in Ellisville...which
estimated one inch on the ground at 1130 am. A half inch
was observed at Laurel at this time. At 140 pm one inch
of snow was noted by a coop observer at Big Creek Water
Park. The snow decreased to flurries after 2 pm and exited the region by 720 pm.

Winter Weather in FORREST, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 06:04:00 to 11-DEC-08 20:50:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Light snow flakes began at around 6 am in Hattiesburg. At 627 am a half inch of snow was noted at Hattiesburg according to the Emergency Manager. Accumulations were noted on grassy surfaces and bushes as well as car tops. By 140 pm an estimate one inch was noted across Hattiesburg by the Emergency Manager. The snowfall intensities became rather light after 2 pm and exited the county by 450 pm.

Heavy Snow in RANKIN, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 06:35:00 to 11-DEC-08 19:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Sleet began just after 630am across extreme southern portions of the county and by 730 most of the county had started seeing a rain/sleet/snow mix. Around 945 moderate snow began to fall over with totals quickly approaching 2 inches around 10. By 11 numerous locations across the southern half of the county were reporting up to 3 inches of snow. At the same time extreme northwestern portions of the county began to change back over to a snow/sleet mix with all winter precipitation coming to an end over the airport shortly after 12pm. By this time numerous traffic accidents had occurred due to sleet and snow piling up on the roads. Also a few large tree branches and powerlines came down. Moderate to heavy snow continued to fall across the south with winter precipitation finally coming to an end around 2pm. Total accumulations ranged from just over half an inch of just sleet in the northwest to as around 3 inches near the Brandon area with as much as 5 inches in the communities of Florence and Star.

Heavy Snow in FRANKLIN, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 05:42:00 to 11-DEC-08 10:32:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Sleet began around 542am quickly changing over to snow before 6. By 950am over 2 inches of snow fell before sleet began to mix back in with the snow. All snow and sleet ended around 1030am with around 2.5 inches of accumulation.

Heavy Snow in SMITH, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 06:45:00 to 11-DEC-08 20:16:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Sleet converted to light snow by 7 am. The snow increased in intensity during the morning. At noon the event source estimated an inch at the Taylorsville town hall. He also reported an estimated 4 inches at the Mize town hall. At 300 pm he reported an estimated 3 inches two miles north of White Oak. At the same time the depth at Taylorsville
increased to 4 inches. The intensity of the snowfall decreased by 6 pm and exited the county by 815 pm.

Heavy Snow in SIMPSON, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 06:25:00 to 11-DEC-08 20:15:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Sleet began around 620am quickly mixing with snow with over half an inch of accumulations having occurred by 730. Moderate snow began to fall around 9 with accumulations approaching 2 inches around 10.
Moderate to heavy snow continued to fall through 1pm with sleet mixing back in around 145 and all winter precipitation ending 215pm. Accumulations ranged from 3 to 7 inches with numerous cities and Co-Op sites reporting up to 5 inches on the ground.

Heavy Snow in JEFFERSON DAVIS, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 06:35:00 to 11-DEC-08 20:13:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Sleet began around 635am quickly changing over to snow with light accumulations occurring just after 7. Moderate snow began to fall across southeastern portions of the county around 730 with accumulations approaching 2 inches around 8. Light to moderate snow would continue with accumulations approaching 3 to 4 inches by 1030 across much of the county. Sleet began to mix with snow once again around 130pm with all precipitation coming to an end around 2pm. Total accumulations of snow and sleet ranged from 4 across the southeast to 8 inches in the northwest.

Heavy Snow in LAMAR, MISSISSIPPI
From 11-DEC-08 05:45:00 to 11-DEC-08 19:50:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Light sleet changed over to light snow flakes at around at around 540 am in West Hattiesburg. The flakes became rather heavy by 7 am. The Media at 809 am reported approximately 4 inches of snow in the Oak Grove community near West Hattiesburg. Sumrall police department reported 2 to 3 inches of snow by 1130 am. At 1130 am Purvis police department reported estimated an inch of snow. The snow exited by region by 450 pm.