Barely recovering from the snowstorm that battered the area during the 2010 Holiday season, the southern states are once again feeling the wrath of Mother Nature as winter storm hit Mississippi Sunday enroute to other states.

Bracing for the worst still to come, the governors of Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia issued emergency warnings. Bob Riley, the governor of Alabama, ordered workers to prepare snow and salt trucks for possible clearing operations. He also instructed residents not to leave home Sunday night and Monday unless necessary as the accumulation of ice on roads and bridges has made it difficult to drive.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings stretching from East Texas to the Carolinas. Meteorologist Daniel Lamb said heavy snow had accumulated Sunday afternoon from Arkansas to Northern Mississippi with freezing rain and sleet expected in other southern states. Forecasters predict that Mississippi and Northern Louisiana will experience the most extreme conditions with potential accumulation of heavy ice in places such as the Atlanta Metro Area.

The expected storm forced local authorities of Georgia to transfer the Monday inauguration of incoming Governor Nathan Deal from the state Capitol to the House Chamber. The inaugural gala was scrapped from the program so supporters would not have to drive in treacherous conditions.

Flights were also cancelled in several airports in the region. Delta Air Lines called off 300 flights beginning 8 pm Sunday and 1,400 flights Monday. Air Tran Airways Spokesman Christopher White said the company cancelled 14 Sunday flights and another 270 scheduled trips for Monday. Passengers on these two airlines will not be charged re-booking fees.

The spokesman of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport David Magana said they canceled 200 flights or about 25 percent of the schedule in anticipation of the weather. The National Weather Service forecasted that 4 to 6 inches of snow is expected by Sunday evening with the bulk to arrive Monday. Parts of Interstate 220 in Louisiana have been closed to traffic and many churches canceled night services.

The bridge in Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa will be closed until sand spreading operations by workers are completed. Monday classes were suspended in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

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