Freezing temperatures persist in Mid-South, delaying thaw until the weekend
Residents of mid-Southern states affected by this week's winter storms are still hunkering down as the worst of the winter storms move out of the area. But freezing temperatures are expected to persist until the weekend in most states.
That means hazardous snow and ice that accumulated during the storms isn't going anywhere in many cities.
Here's what the situation looks like in five states that have been under a state of emergency.
RELATED:'Just a real mess': 100M from the South to the East Coast in path of a new winter storm; 2.1M power outages across 8 states
Temperatures are warming up in Alabama as the last dregs of rain and wintry mix clear the state, according to the National Weather Service.
The southeast hot the low 60s Thursday but temperatures were expected to drop into the teens and low 20s in the northwest Thursday night.
Meteorologists expect temperatures Friday will remain cool, ranging from the 30s to 50s, with little to no chance of precipitation heading into the weekend.
WeatherStreet snow depth models show the last snowfall brought between 1 and 8 inches of snow to parts of Arkansas, adding to overall snowfall accumulations of 4 to 16 inches in some areas after the polar vortex first moved into the area.
But, things are looking up for much of the state. Highs in western Arkansas will likely dip into the single digits in some areas Thursday night. Meteorologists expect temperatures to rise more Friday to nearly 40 degrees in the western part of the state and dip into the teens Friday night, before a sunny Saturday at 50 degrees and the real thaw coming on Monday with temperatures in the low 60s.
The northern part of the state is expected to have temperatures in the 50s for much of early next week.
As winter weather moves out of the area, Louisiana is still grappling with the arctic blast's effects. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has asked President Joe Biden for a federal emergency declaration to help manage the effects of recent extreme weather.
At least four people have died in Louisiana since extreme cold weather moved into the state. Utility regulators including Louisiana utility regulators, including the Public Service Commission, announced they would begin investigating natural gas suppliers' for the power grid failures.
Outages and rolling blackouts have wreaked havoc on water systems causing main breaks and leading utilities to advise boil orders in Shreveport and Lake Charles and Lafayette. Shreveport officials told residents that water and power outages may persist until Saturday.
COVID-19 vaccine shipments have been delayed, and hazardous road conditions have forced schools to remain closed in the northern and central parts of the state.
Frigid temperatures are expected to continue in Mississippi until the weekend. The National Weather Service warned residents of nightly dips into the teens for much of the state on Thursday and Friday before temperatures rise Sunday.
Boil notices are in effect in and around Jackson. Government offices, schools and airports remained closed Thursday in Jackson and other parts of Mississippi affected by the winter weather.
Middle and West Tennessee
The National Weather Service's winter storm warning remained in effect for Western and Middle Tennessee through Thursday afternoon, but the worst appears to be over.
Temperatures around Memphis on Thursday only reached the high 20s, and though highs are expected to stay below freezing until the weekend, meteorologists expect Friday to bring clear skies to the area. Temperatures may peak in the 40s Saturday through Monday, thawing accumulated ice and snow in the area.
RELATED:Winter weather in Memphis could have one benefit: reducing COVID-19 transmission
Many school campuses, government offices and COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites remain closed through the end of the week around Memphis and Nashville, and driving is still hazardous as side roads remain caked in snow and ice.
MORE:Why the power in Tennessee stayed on while Texas, Arkansas had rolling blackouts
In Middle Tennessee, overnight snowfall added as much as 2 inches of snow to existing accumulations of 1 to 6 inches across the region. Temperatures are expected to remain at or below freezing through Friday afternoon, and snow likely won't begin to melt until Saturday.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol warned roads are passable in the region, but still slick. A jack-knifed truck closed down parts of Interstate 65 in Franklin early Thursday.