Oh crap...

Earlier we were merely under a winter weather advisory...but now we're under an honest-to-God warning.  Here's the text:

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1002 PM CST Thu Jan 11 2018

...WINTER WEATHER WILL AFFECT THE MID-SOUTH LATE THIS EVENING
INTO FRIDAY...

.A strong cold front will move into the Lower Mississippi Valley
late this evening. Rain will begin to transition to a mixture of
freezing rain and sleet as cold air begins to filter into the Mid-
South, then eventually to all snow on Friday. Snow is expected
to taper off Friday afternoon. Significant snow and ice
accumulations will be possible across much of the region. In
addition, strong northwest winds will occur as the much colder
air filters into the region.

ARZ009-018-026-027-035-048-MOZ113-121200-
/O.UPG.KMEG.WW.Y.0001.000000T0000Z-180112T1800Z/
/O.EXB.KMEG.WS.W.0001.180112T0500Z-180112T1800Z/
Clay-Greene-Craighead-Poinsett-Cross-St. Francis-Dunklin-
Including the cities of Piggott, Corning, Paragould, Jonesboro,
Harrisburg, Wynne, Forrest City, and Kennett
1002 PM CST Thu Jan 11 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Power outages and
  tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel will be dangerous
  and nearly impossible, including during the morning commute on
  Friday. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to two inches
  and ice accumulations of one quarter of an inch are expected.

* WHERE...Portions of East Arkansas and Southeast Missouri.

* WHEN...11 PM today to noon Friday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Be prepared for significant reductions in
  visibility at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet
and ice are expected. This will make travel very hazardous or
impossible. The latest road conditions for the state you are
calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

$$

Most of the schools from central Stoddard County on up have called off school, though the tough-as-nails Catholic school where Mama used to teach is still in session.  Seriously, those folks out at Glennonville are sweet as can be, but they're also grit-tough and will hold school even if everyone else is out.  Malden hasn't called off school yet, but if we get anywhere near the ice that the weather folks say we're going to then I don't see how Malden COULD have school.  I'll have to go to work even if the school does shut down, unless the power goes out.  And I don't want the power to go out because Bentley and Priscilla need it!

So right now I'm praying that this storm won't amount to anything, as storms have done in the past.  And right as I'm typing that last sentence, I can hear the rain start to fall, in air that's just above freezing and dropping in temperature.  Bummer.  But hey, maybe I'll have some decent pictures for y'all!

Yours nervously,

RagingMoon1987