NATCHEZ —Those who watch the weather have a message for the Miss-Lou: don’t go out tonight unless it is an emergency.

The low temperature this morning was set to dip to 28 degrees, said Stephen Wilkinson, warning coordinator for NWS’ Jackson office.

“The average high (temp) in Mississippi for this date is 65 degrees, so we’re a good 30 degrees colder than normal,” he said.

Rain was forecast for Natchez Monday night, “starting before the temperatures hit freezing,” Wilkinson said.

“Then when you reach freezing or below, that precipitation will freeze on the roads.”

Since it’s not always possible to see ice on roads and bridges, the best policy is to stay put, Wilkinson said.

The main issue in Adams County will be overnight freezing rain.

“We’ll be watching the weather closely,” said Robert Bradford, civil defense director for Adams County.

Bradford did not have specific plans regarding the icy condition, but said he was attending at 11 a.m. a briefing by telephone with state civil defense officials.

“A lot of what we’re going to do depends on what they say,” Bradford said.

Steven Richardson, press contact for the Natchez-Adams School District, said that as of Monday morning their schools do not intend to close today.

“But when and if the superintendant decides to make that call we will publicize it,” Richardson said.

Wilkinson said there’s a silver lining to all this.

“We will start warming up (today),” he said. “Tomorrow it may get up to 41 degrees.”