Wintry mix creates havoc in the South

JACKSON, Miss. — A blast of winter weather gripped parts of the South on Sunday, coating bridges and roads with snow, sleet and freezing rain and causing hundreds of flight cancellations.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley issued emergency declarations. Riley said workers had readied snow and salt trucks to help clear icy roads, and he asked all residents to stay home Sunday night and today unless it was necessary to go out.

Mississippi officials warned drivers early Sunday that ice was already accumulating on roads and bridges in many counties, creating hazardous driving conditions.

The National Weather Service posted winter storm warnings across the South, from east Texas to the Carolinas. The same winter system delivered snow to Arkansas on Sunday.

Joanne Culin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, Miss., expected the worst weather in Mississippi and Louisiana on Sunday and early today along the Interstate 20 corridor.

Northern parts of Mississippi could get 4 to 9 inches of snow, Culin said. The more dangerous conditions, however, were expected along I-20, because the precipitation was likely to be freezing rain and sleet.

Culin said the weather system was expected to push into Alabama late Sunday and early today. Georgia and Tennessee were expected to get rain and snow by Sunday night.

Hundreds of flights were canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of the icy weather.

The anticipated storm forced Georgia officials to move today’s inauguration of newly elected Gov. Nathan Deal from the state Capitol steps inside to the shelter of the House chamber. The inaugural gala was scrapped to keep supporters off treacherous roads.

Delta Air Lines canceled 330 flights starting about 8 p.m. Sunday and another 1,400 flights today. AirTran Airways canceled 14 flights for Sunday and another 270 for today, spokesman Christopher White said.

Both airlines are allowing passengers whose flights are canceled to change them without fees.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport spokesman David Magana said 200 flights, or about a quarter of the schedule, were canceled in anticipation of the weather.

In Georgia, officials in charge of Deal’s inauguration canceled today’s prayer breakfast and a gala celebration because of the looming storm, though Deal was still scheduled to be sworn in this afternoon.

Georgia was expected to get up to 6 inches of snow. Forecasters say the storm could also deliver sleet and freezing rain lasting into Tuesday.

In eastern Tennessee, the Weather Service said 4 to 6 inches of snow could fall by Sunday evening, with the heaviest snow falling early today.

In Alabama, Auburn University students must go somewhere other than campus to watch the Tigers play in today’s championship bowl game. The university has canceled all viewing parties and other events planned as the state prepares for severe winter weather.

Information for this article was contributed from Atlanta by Dorie Turner of The Associated Press.