MDOT Urges Emergency Travel Only as Winter Storm Hits Quitman County

The Mississippi Department of Transportation urged residents to restrict travel to emergencies after Winter Storm Fern left ice on roads, bridges and overpasses across northern Mississippi, including Quitman County, creating interstate closures and stranded vehicles that snarled traffic. MDOT issued an official press release dated Jan. 24, 2026, warning motorists and directing crews into impacted areas; the copy of that release provided to reporters was truncated at the listing for Quitman but clearly included the county among those affected.

MDOT initially reported ice on roadways in 26 counties, a figure cited in an update “as of around 11:00 a.m. Saturday.” A subsequent MDOT operations update circulating with local outlets expanded the count to 28 counties and provided a full list: Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Humphreys, Issaquena, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Washington, Yalobusha and Yazoo. The differing totals reflect updates to MDOT reporting as crews moved through the region.

Interstate travel was hit hardest. Portions of I-55 and I-22 were closed so crews could clear ice and remove stranded trucks, with the Mississippi Highway Patrol assisting motorists amid what local traffic reports described as a “massive backup.” MDOT mobilized snow plows and motor graders on the affected interstates; an MDOT official identified as “David” in an ActionNews5 transcript said, “We’re still recommending emergency travel only at this time. We have mobilized a good amount of snow plows and motor graders on I-55 and I-22. They’re going out to work today, probably already heavy at it, probably have been for several hours since daybreak. But we ask people to stay home, still stay off the road so we can get this work done. The fewer vehicles on the roadway makes our job a lot easier and we can go a lot faster and clearing ice off the road.” That transcript is truncated in places.

Operational figures released by MDOT show significant pre-storm and post-storm activity: MDOT said it pretreated roadways with 200,000 gallons of salt brine before the storm and dispatched most of a fleet of 135 snowplows and 64 motor graders into heavily impacted areas. An operations update reported 20,000 man hours used to treat 15,000 lane miles and 3,000 bridges and listed “1,000 pounds of salt” as the quantity applied; that salt figure is notable in scale and should be confirmed with MDOT. Officials said crews are applying salt and slag to bridges and trouble spots to provide traction and melt ice, but warned that low overnight temperatures could allow treated surfaces to refreeze.

MDOT Executive Director Brad White pressed for patience and caution, saying, “We ask the traveling public to remain patient while we recover from this devastating storm. Please give our crews space to clear roadways safely.” In a separate statement he urged motorists to allow room for crews and to avoid nonessential travel: “Please allow space for our crews to work as we work to keep roads open during this winter storm. If you have to travel, remain cautious of changing road conditions. We strongly discourage travel unless it’s an emergency.” MDOT also reminded drivers that “ice will form on bridges and overpasses quicker than the road,” and warned that treated surfaces may refreeze.

Local emergency services set up shelters as freezing conditions persisted. For Quitman County residents the immediate priorities remain avoiding travel, checking MDOT traffic updates before any necessary movement, and seeking shelter warmth if stranded. Officials say they will continue clearing operations and conduct post-storm reviews of response and closures. Residents should expect ongoing updates from state and county agencies as crews work to reopen lanes and secure routes for emergency access.