North Mississippi weather definitely keeps us on our toes.

Last week, the weather reports changed almost hourly—first predicting 2-3 inches of snow, then 4-6 inches with no ice. Later, it was revised to 1-2 inches of snow and mostly ice. By Friday morning, however, we woke up to anywhere from 2 to more than 4 inches of snow, depending on where you live in the county. And yes, there was ice as well.

Last winter, Oxford and Lafayette County faced significant challenges when a winter storm blanketed the area with sleet and ice. Schools were closed for a week, and some residents were trapped in their homes for several days.

County and city officials took the lessons learned from that storm to heart. When the National Weather Service began predicting snow and ice for our area, those lessons were put to the test—and they passed with flying colors.

Emergency management officials from the city, county, and the University of Mississippi met before the storm’s arrival on Thursday night to ensure plans were in place. City and county road crews prepared equipment to plow roads and spread salt and sand where needed most.

The city of Oxford posted a list of roads that would be plowed first on its website, ensuring transparency. Both city and county governments prioritized clearing main roads, and their efforts paid off.

Although roads were snow-covered early Friday morning, the hustle of road crews was evident almost immediately. By noon, some residents were able to head to the Square, where several restaurants opened for a few hours before closing early when temperatures dropped below freezing again.

We applaud Oxford and Lafayette County officials for their planning and preparation. The road crews and other city and county employees worked tirelessly to make this year’s storm less disruptive for residents—and it showed.

Our area doesn’t often experience significant snow or ice, but when it does, proper preparation makes all the difference. This year, our local governments worked hard to ensure the safety of citizens while our children enjoyed a fun snow day.