Gov. Phil Bryant has declared a State of Emergency for 36 counties, including Pearl River County, in preparation for coming winter weather across south Mississippi.

The National Weather Service says the forecast for Tuesday calls for:

• Ice accumulations up to three quarters of an inch along the Gulf Coast.

• Snow accumulations of up to four inches along the Highway 84 corridor.

• Perhaps up to an inch of snow along and south of the I-20 corridor.

• Temperatures statewide are expected to remain below freezing from Tuesday morning through late Thursday morning.

A State of Emergency declaration is an administrative tool that allows state officials to position and deploy resources to assist areas that are impacted by an emergency.

“I have declared a State of Emergency to aid emergency officials in preparing for the onset of this potentially dangerous weather,” Gov. Phil Bryant said. “Residents should not overreact but should make plans now to ensure they are prepared for prolonged freezing conditions and icy roadways. I am working closely with MEMA, MDOT, the Department of Public Safety and other state agencies to monitor the situation, and we will issue updates as necessary.”

Residents should prepare for the possibility of power outages, problems with pipes that are not fully insulated or at risk to burst and very dangerous driving conditions. Last week the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and other emergency service officials reported more than 100 vehicle accidents occurred in south Mississippi from icy conditions.

For details on preparedness checklists, as well as updates, please visit MEMA’s website at www.msema.org, or contact your county emergency management director. The public may also access MEMA’s mobile phone application or follow MEMA on Facebook and Twitter.

For information on road conditions, dial 5-1-1.