What may be the first death directly related to Winter Storm Fern in Mississippi has been reported in Tishomingo County.
73-year-old Timothy Steele died when an ice-laden tree limb fell through his mobile home, Tishomingo County coroner Mack Wilemon told WTVA. Steele was believed to be sleeping when the tree uprooted and the limb crashed down, trapping him beneath it. It happened off CR 172, about two miles west of Iuka.
The outlet added that Steele was found Sunday before 11 a.m. after a cousin went to his home to perform a welfare check.
Tishomingo County was among 37 Mississippi counties that experienced ice accumulation during Fern’s trek through the state this weekend. The storm left a statewide high of 180,000-plus power outages behind. As of Monday morning, there were still more than 150,000 residents without power.
Although Fern has moved out of Mississippi, below-freezing temperatures are expected to persist into the week, slowing ice melt and potentially creating new hazardous conditions.