This morning, you may have awoken to either a winter wonderland by South Mississippi standards, or icy conditions of some variation.

If you did, then the predications made by weather professionals were correct, and more of this dangerously cold weather is still to come.

Those forecasts were for snow and or sleet to fall in our region from early Friday morning until about noon. While that precipitation was not guaranteed to create slick roads, there is concern as to what that water will do as the day drags on.

Emergency personnel in Picayune were advised by the National Weather Service out of Slidell La., that if that water didn’t dry up by Friday night, Saturday morning would be a dangerous time to head out onto the roads.

Pearl River County residents should remember back to 2014 when extremely cold conditions froze water lines, roads and bridges. Several accidents occurred over those several days, some of which were unfortunately fatal, including one on the Highway 11 bridge in the middle of town.

The best way to avoid being involved in an accident as a result of icy roads is to stay home until conditions improve if possible. Forecasts state that the weather is expected to clear up some by noon on Friday, but if the weather is as bad as they say it will be Saturday, you may consider staying home that day.

For those of you who have to be at work Saturday, get there safely by driving slow. That will mean you will have to set your alarm clock a bit earlier.

And those slow speeds apply to any road you have to travel upon. The maximum suggested speed on an icy road is 45 miles