Rain and sleet were not enough to keep public schools from opening this morning, but dropping temperatures nixed the afternoon schedule, as officials ordered early dismissal due to the potential for hazardous travel.

Friday classes were also “up in the air,” said Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Dr. James Price.

Buses began their runs this morning with rainfall and temperatures in the low 40s, and it was a toss-up as to whether the rain would end before freezing air moved in.

“We want to get them out and get them home before then,” Price said of the district’s 9,000 students. For most, it was their first day back after winter break.

Warren County remained one of many in Mississippi included in a winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

“The most dangerous thing is going to be bridges and overpasses,” said Jim Fairly, meteorologist with the NWS in Jackson. Some accumulation of sleet or, later, snow is possible, he said.

Bus drivers, many of whom work second jobs during school hours, remained on call this morning, Price said, and were contacted around 10 a.m. with the plans for early bus runs. The junior high schools dismissed at 12:40 p.m., the high schools at 1 and the elementary schools at 1:20.

School sporting events for tonight were also canceled.

Having made a half-day, it’s not expected that the public schools will be required to schedule another day of classes at the end of the school year.

Porters Chapel Academy was closed today. Vicksburg Catholic Schools were dismissing at 1:15 and had canceled all after-school activities.

Wednesday, Gov. Haley Barbour declared a state of emergency in advance of today’s storm, and the frigid temperatures expected during the weekend.

A wind chill advisory, with cautions to wear protective clothing while outside, is also in effect in Warren County from 6 tonight until noon Friday.

Don Arnold, spokesman for Entergy Mississippi, said the utility company doesn’t expect outages due to icing in this area. Customers with any outages could see some delays caused by ice on roadways traveled by their workers, however.

Friday’s high is forecast to be 29 degrees, followed by a high of 30 degrees Saturday. A gusty north wind will create wind chills in the single digits, the NWS said.

Local charities and service organizations are continuing to offer shelter and supplies during the cold snap.

The American Red Cross, 908 Cherry St., has blankets available for those in need, said Janice Sawyer, emergency services director. The Salvation Army, 530 Mission 66, is issuing vouchers for blankets and coats to people who can not afford them, Lt. Jo-Ann Frazier said.

River City Rescue Mission, 3705 Washington St., is offering shelter to as many men who need it, even beyond mission’s usual ministry, said director Earnie Hall. Restrictions that residents join alcohol or drug treatment programs were suspended temporarily.

“If there’s anybody we can help, we want to,” Hall said. Forty-one men took advantage of River City’s shelter Wednesday night, he said, about 11 more than usual. “It’s a real blessing to be able to serve them.”

Barbara Tolliver, executive director of the United Way of West Central Mississippi said her organization stands ready to assemble volunteers if needed by any member agencies to provide services and meals to the elderly and others in need. She added that at this point the Red Cross was not planning to open a shelter.

For the schools, precipitation and the continuing cold temperatures put each day of school in doubt.

“We’ll probably be up at 3:30 a.m. again,” Price said about Friday. “We’re concerned. It’s going to be terribly cold. If there’s any moisture it’s going to be a mess.”

Statewide, 60 schools were closed today, most in the northern half of the state. In some of those areas, ice accumulated on roadways and a hard-freeze warning was issued.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is monitoring weather reports, road conditions, service agencies and other organizations, and Mississippi Public Broadcasting was issuing increased weather and road condition reports.

In only nine years out of the last 150 has a similar string of days with temps below 25 degrees been recorded in the Jackson area, NWS meteorologist Ariel Cohen said.

The end might be in sight, however.

“This arctic air mass should be starting to filter out of the area early next week,” Fairly said. Monday and Tuesday could see temperatures rise into the 40s and 50s, he said.

The record high for Jan. 7 was 78 degrees, recorded in 1890. The record low, 13, was recorded before 1886.

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com