JACKSON –  Snow fell over much of central Mississippi with 2 to 4 inches reported by midmorning Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

     Brookhaven saw a light layer of snow on roofs and grassy areas at daybreak.

     While Brookhaven, Lincoln County and Lawrence County schools started on time this morning, many area schools delayed starting by one to one and a half hours.

     An accumulation of around 3 inches was reported at mid-morning in the Jackson metro area with two inches northward through the Yazoo City and Grenada areas and to the east around Starkville an inch or so, Jackson Meteorologist Daniel Lamb said.

     The last time central Mississippi got at least 2 inches of snow was in February of 2010, and areas north of Jackson had decent accumulations more recently. Areas of north Mississippi got some snow in November and December of 2011 with accumulations of less than 2 inches.

     Gov. Phil Bryant allowed state offices to remain closed until 10 a.m. Thursday. The Legislature was scheduled to meet.

     Lamb said the snow ended from the west to east about midmorning Thursday in the Jackson area and by noon in the eastern Mississippi.

     Areas in south Mississippi were expected to get more rain Thursday before a gradual clearing off.

     Entergy Mississippi reported 1,856 customers without power early Thursday. Most of them –  1,173 –  were in Hinds County and others scattered among Adams, Madison, Quitman, Sunflower, Warren, Washington and unspecified areas.

     Lows Thursday night were expected to dip into the mid-20s, but Friday’s high would be 50, Lamb said.