STATEWIDE — Tens of thousands of Mississippi residents were without power Sunday afternoon as winter weather moved across the state, with utility outage data showing especially heavy impacts in north and southwest Mississippi.
Entergy Mississippi reported more than 62,700 customers without electricity statewide as of about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, representing roughly 14% of its tracked customers, according to utility outage figures. Several electric power associations serving northern counties reported outages affecting more than half of their customers.
The hardest-hit areas included Tishomingo County, where about 81% of customers were without power, and Tippah County, where nearly 70% of customers were affected. Alcorn County also reported widespread outages, with more than 56% of customers without service.
Other utilities reporting significant outages included Oxford Utilities, with nearly 57% of customers out; Water Valley Electric Commission, at nearly 72%; Prentiss County Electric Power Association, with more than 53%; and Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association, where about 34% of customers were without power.
Several additional electric cooperatives reported thousands of outages, including Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association and Natchez Trace Electric Power Association, each with roughly one-third of customers affected.
By contrast, utilities serving much of central and southern Mississippi reported relatively limited disruptions. Mississippi Power reported fewer than 1,000 outages statewide, affecting less than 1% of its customers. Pearl River Valley EPA, Coast EPA, Magnolia Electric Power, and Singing River Electric each reported only isolated outages.
Utility officials across the state urged residents to prepare for continued hazardous conditions, noting that icy roads, falling tree limbs and high winds can slow restoration efforts. Crews were working to restore service as conditions allowed.
Outage numbers are expected to fluctuate as weather conditions change and restoration work continues.
