MEMPHIS, TN - Snow started falling in the Mid-South just before 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2009. And with temperatures below or near the freezing point on Sunday, the accumulated snow is creating hazardous road conditions.
The city of Memphis received five to seven inches and more than a foot of snow fell in outlying areas. Late Saturday, Mississippi County, Arkansas reported snow drifts as deep as 18 inches.
Dwan Gilliom, the Director of Public Works for the city of Memphis, spent his Saturday driving around Memphis checking on the condition of the city's streets. He says the salt trucks and crews targeted bridges and overpasses and the other areas that traditionally ice up or get slick.
Drivers should be prepared to take their time getting to their destination on Sunday.
Early this morning, traffic was at a standstill on Interstate 40 in Haywood County.
And at least one deadly wreck was reported Saturday at mile marker 24 on Interstate 55 near U.S. Highway 63 not far from Turrell, Arkansas. The Crittenden County Sheriff's Department tells Eyewitness News that five cars were involved in the accident and there is one confirmed fatality.
Several area law enforcement agencies, including the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office and the Fayette County Sheriff's Department put their inclement weather policies into place. If you are involved in a minor traffic accident, you should trade information with the other driver and contact authorities after the weather event has passed.
Eyewitness News reporters and photographers are canvassing the Mid-South. We'll bring you the latest on the winter weather Sunday on ABC 24 Eyewitness News at 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and on CW 30 Eyewitness News at 9:00.
You can also check myEyewitnessNews.com for instant updates on the weather, road conditions and any school, church or business closures.
And to send us pictures of the snowfall in your neighborhood, click on "myReport" on the left hand side of our homepage for directions on how to upload your photos so we can show them on Eyewitness News.
