By Jason C. Mattox

The Mississippi Department of Transportation began application of roadway deicer Wednesday in preparation for wintry weather forecast for today.

According to Weather.com, snow was forecast as early as 9 p.m. Thursday.

High temperatures are expected to reach 37 degrees today, according to the Web site.

The National Weather Service has forecast a small accumulation of snow, as much as an inch, for Panola County through Sunday night.

Panola County EMA director Daniel Cole said his department is prepared for the possibility of winter weather.

“We are about as ready as we can be until we see exactly what happens,” he said.

Cole said he has received conflicting stories on the weather.

“At this point, I have heard that from Pope to the south could get anywhere from a dusting to two inches of accumulation,” he said. “If that’s the case, you aren’t talking about a lot of the county, but if the report of Crenshaw to the south is accurate, it could be a lot more of the county seeing snow or ice.

“I have to admit, I am a little concerned because we have dodged two bullets,” he said referring to previously expected sleet and ice that has gone to the north or east of Panola County.

Mississippi Department of Transportation employees have been putting down a liquid deicer on highways that is effective down to 22 degrees, MDOT representative Thomas McCain said.

McCain explained that the deicer has to be applied when roadways are dry.

“When the mixture goes down, it is a wet solution that contains 60 pounds of salt per lane mile,” he said. “Once the solution has dried, it will not activate until it is hit with the winter weather.”