Universities, colleges and public school districts throughout Mississippi closed Tuesday in anticipation of potentially dangerous winter weather. Some have now announced extended closures through Wednesday.

By Tuesday afternoon, some areas of the state faced icy roads and several inches of snow while other parts got only a few snow flurries.

Temperatures are expected to warm slightly by Wednesday morning, but several parts of the state, especially Southern Mississippi and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, will still face potentially dangerous conditions. A state of emergency declared by Gov. Tate Reeves will remain in effect through Wednesday, Jan. 21.

As a result, several schools have announced extended closures or modified operations through Wednesday.

Universities and colleges

Many universities and colleges had not yet made an announcement regarding campus operations for Wednesday, Jan. 22, by press time for this story.

The following universities and colleges have canceled or modified classes:

• Jones College implemented modified operations starting Tuesday. Campus will remain open, but all classes will transition to remote through Wednesday, Jan. 22.
• The University of Southern Mississippi announced Tuesday afternoon that all campuses will remain closed through Wednesday, Jan. 22, and all classes will be canceled. The university will make a decision on Thursday’s campus operations by 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
• William Carey University announced Tuesday afternoon that all campuses including Hattiesburg, Biloxi and Baton Rouge will remain closed through Wednesday, Jan. 22, due to the continuing winter storm. Normal operations will resume Thursday, Jan. 23.

Follow along live: Snow blankets much of Mississippi as state deals with frigid weather

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School districts

Many of Mississippi’s school districts throughout the state closed on Tuesday due to winter weather. Potentially dangerous conditions and cold temperatures are expected to continue through Wednesday, especially for southern and coastal counties.

The following school districts have announced canceled classes for Wednesday:

• Bay St. Louis- Waveland School District announced Sunday all schools will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 21, and Wednesday, Jan. 22, after Monday’s MLK Day holiday in order to “ensure the safety of our students, staff and families.” The district shared photos on Facebook of the mascot Bayland the Tiger enjoying the snow day.
• Forrest County School District announced Tuesday afternoon all schools will remain closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the advice of Forrest County Emergency Management due to the possibility of dangerous road conditions.
• Hattiesburg Public Schools will remain closed through Wednesday, Jan. 22, with plans to resume normal operations on Thursday, Jan. 23.
• Ocean Springs School District met with Jackson County Emergency Management officials Monday afternoon and decided to extend its closure through Wednesday, Jan. 22. As of Tuesday afternoon, the district plans to reopen Thursday, Jan. 23, and will keep community members updated on any changes through social media.
• Petal School District met with Forrest County Emergency Management officials Tuesday afternoon and decided to keep all schools closed through Wednesday, Jan. 22, due to snow covered roads. Extracurricular activities have also been canceled. The district will continue monitoring weather conditions and provide updates on the rest of the week’s schedule.

This is a developing story. Check back in with the Clarion Ledger for updates.