Update: Pearl River Community College has indicated it will begin holding classes late on Friday. See below.

Representatives with two school districts within Pearl River County have indicated that classes will be cancelled Friday, Dec. 8 due to inclement weather.

Poplarville and Pearl River County School Districts will be closed due to forecasts of sleet and or snow expected to arrive Friday morning.

According to a release from PRCC, “Due to the pending inclement weather the PRCC campuses will open at noon on Friday, December 8^th (tomorrow). Tests that were scheduled for 8am will begin at 12pm, and tests that were scheduled for 10am will begin at 2pm.

The College is sensitive to the situation that the weather has created and appreciates your patience as we have listened to the experts. The cafeteria will follow regularly scheduled hours for dormitory students.

Any questions regarding online classes should be directed to eLearning at distancelearning@prcc.edu.”

Picayune School District Superintendent Dean Shaw said he will wait until about 5 a.m. Friday morning make the determination whether to cancel classes. He said if classes are cancelled, he will alert families via local media outlets and through phone calls to parents.

The decision came after the National Weather Service announced that sleet and or snow  is forecast to arrive in South Mississippi early Friday morning between 3 and 5 and could last until noon.

While the weather will bring about an inch or two of sleet or snow, the National Weather Service predicts the precipitation won’t stick to roadways during the day Friday. However, there is the danger of slick spots forming on bridges, elevated roads and in some areas of flat surfaces where water pools.

A mid to hard freeze is forecast for Friday night and Saturday morning. If the roads do not dry up during the day Friday, there is an increased chance of roads and bridges freezing Saturday morning. Temperatures are forecast to be in the upper to mid 20s Saturday morning.

Picayune Assistant Fire Chief Barry Lee advises all Pearl River County residents to stay home during the freezing conditions if they can.