In the dark? How to report a power outage in Mississippi, see state tracker

A massive winter storm is set to sweep snow and freezing rain from New Mexico up to New England this weekend. Parts of Mississippi are expected to get debilitating accumulations of snow, ice or both in the system that will affect more than 24 states.

This week, Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore warned people to plan for potentially long power outages in Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.

“In a storm like this, FREEZING RAIN of that magnitude is a disaster. This could be where some of the biggest impacts lie simply because of extended power loss with very cold air to follow the storm,” he posted on X Wednesday morning.

AccuWeather noted that the winter weather will snarl roads and could delay traffic and close schools for days.

“Potentially hundreds of thousands of people may go without electricity and heat for days,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in an online forecast.

Follow the National Weather Service and local meteorologists for the most current weather outlook for your town. Know how to report a power outage to a Mississippi utility company to get help as soon as possible, and check out a map of outages to see how many people are affected in the Magnolia State.

What does the Mississippi forecast call for?

Most of Mississippi will be affected by the winter storm. Northern parts of the state could see inches of snow, and a large swath will be affected by freezing rain that will turn into ice accumulations.

Forecasters have warned that some people around the country should plan for extended outages. They’re advised to buy enough food and water to survive without power for several days. Be sure homes are winterized and have emergency kits in your home or car.

Need to report a power outage in Mississippi?

The Mississippi Public Service Commission lists 61 electric utility providers across the state, including municipal providers and co-ops, sometimes called an Electric Power Association.

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To report an outage, you’ll likely need your account number or the phone number on the account. Some services have websites to notify them of outages, and others may have report-by-text options. Check out options early to be be prepared.

See Mississippi power outage map

This map tracks more than 1,000 companies across the U.S. and updates every 15 minutes.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.