When will Mississippi road conditions improve, snow melt? Not as soon as you’d like

This winter weather is getting old.

Days of rain, sleet and snow combined with bitter, record-breaking cold have kept many Mississippians at home since Sunday, and many of those who ventured out found themselves in a travel nightmare.

Thousands have been without power and the second front that is moving through the state now is making things worse. 

So when will the winter storm misery end?

Well, it's a bit of an ebb and flow process and will likely continue until Sunday.

"There will be a threat of icy roads all the way into the weekend," said Mike Edmonston, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. "The good news is we're looking into Sunday and Monday with a warm-up and Saturday as well."

The problem is what happens between now and then. Additional ice and snow in the Delta and other parts of the state on Wednesday won't help. 

Thunder, snow, sleet and lightning:Even meteorologists admit this Mississippi storm was one for the ages

"We're already getting reports of 2 inches of snow in Bolivar County," Edmonston said at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. "It's not only Bolivar County; Sunflower County has .2 inches of sleet. All of those counties are experiencing wintry, mixed precipitation today." 

The additional precipitation piled on top of inches of snow and ice is bad enough.

Then we have the tug-o-war between day and night temperatures.

Temperatures in the day will be above freezing for the remainder of the week, but nighttime lows will be below freezing in most of the state, refreezing what melted during the day.

Jackson area temperature forecast

Wednesday: High 33, Low 30 overnight

Thursday: High 37, Low 20 overnight

Friday: High 38, Low 20 overnight

However, that pattern will end this weekend. Warm temperatures are expected Saturday with an overnight low of around 33 degrees in the Jackson area and should make a significant impact on the ice. 

Sunday's temperatures in Mississippi will be in the 50s and 60s

Edmonston said Sunday's highs will be in the 50s and 60s, which should take care of any remaining ice with the possible exception of Northwestern Mississippi.

But in the next few days for much of the state, "It's going to be a slushy mess," Edmonston said.

Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.