The Mississippi Department of Transportation announced at 5 p.m. that it has received reports of ice on roads in 40 counties. Officials ask all state residents to stay weather-aware as temps drop tonight, and only drive if absolutely necessary.

The National Weather Service warns of a mix of wintry precipitation, including sleet, snow, and freezing rain, that will continue through tonight, ending prior to dawn in the southeast. Dangerous travel conditions will continue with some downed trees and powerlines.

Additional accumulations of snow and sleet up to 1 inch and ice accumulations of 0.25 inches are possible in those areas.

For the remainder of the area, accumulating sleet and freezing rain is likely with hazardous travel. A few trees and powerlines may also be downed in this area.

Schools are closing until the weather improves. Oxford and Lafayette County schools are closed Tuesday and Wednesday, as are the University of Mississippi’s Oxford and regional campuses. All university activities are canceled. Mississippi State University will begin the winter semester Jan. 16 online, according to its X account.