By Rita Howell
This week’s frigid temperatures have brought to mind a similar arctic air mass that swept into Panola County in December, 1989, dropping temperatures to minus 2 degrees December 22 and 23, according to Panolian archives. The record-breaking cold began December 21, 1989. When temperatures plummeted below freezing and stayed there until Christmas Day, plumbers were more sought-after than Santa, according to a story in the Panolian on December 27.

This week’s freeze began Sunday night, with temperatures remaining in the teens all day Monday, then expected to drop below 10 Monday night. Today is expected to be somewhat warmer, but still below freezing, though with sunshine, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service. By the remainder of the week temperatures should be in the forties and fifties.