Mississippi is known for its mild winters. However, that doesn’t mean the state has never experienced a brutal winter storm. Over the years, there have been several highly notable winter storms in Mississippi, including the following five, which were so severe, they've gone down in history.
1. The Great Blizzard of 1899
During this history-making blizzard, which is also known as the Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899 and the St. Valentine's Day Blizzard, temperatures throughout the U.S., including Mississippi, plummeted to record-breaking lows. The storm wreaked havoc throughout the state. Icebergs formed on the Mississippi River, stopping boats dead in their tracks, gas lines became inoperable, and coal supplies dwindled. Even on the Gulf Coast, temperatures dropped down to 0 degrees, causing bays and parts of the Mississippi Sound to freeze.
2. Ice Storm of 1996
The Ice Storm of 1996 brought snow, sleet, and record lows to the Midwest and the South. Mississippi experienced the brunt of the storm between February 1st and 2nd, when wind chill values were well below zero. Effects of the storm were felt long after, though, as immense amounts of ice damaged power lines, causing week-long outages in some areas.
3. Southern Ice Storm
To this day, the Southern Ice Storm remains the 2nd worst ice storm in history to hit the South. Also known as the Delta Ice Storm, it struck on February 9 – 13, 1994, pummeling Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia with freezing temps and ice. Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama saw the worst impacts. Watch the vintage footage below for a closer look at the history-making storm.
4. Great Ice Storm of 1951
Living up to its name, the Great Ice Storm of 1951 affected a more than 100-mile-wide swath of land, stretching from Louisiana to West Virginia! It struck January 29th – February 2nd, leaving a wake of destruction in its path. When all was said and done, 25 people died, 500 were injured, and damages reached the millions. Check out the video below for a closer look at the Great Ice Storm of 1951 and its effects on Mississippi.
5. February 2021 Winter Storm
The most severe winter storm to hit the state since the Ice Storm of 1996, the effects of the February 2021 Winter Storm were felt across the state. Not only was ice reported on roads in 74 of Mississippi’s 82 counties, but temperatures were below freezing in most of the state. In fact, it was the coldest Mardi Gras the Mississippi Gulf Coast experienced in more than 120 years!
So, did you know about these winter storms in Mississippi? Aside from the storms mentioned above, do you remember another brutal blizzard or ice storm in Mississippi? Tell us in the comments!
These aren’t the only events to go down in Mississippi history. There have been plenty of other natural disasters in Mississippi that we'll never forget.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
