Mississippi
Strong tornadoes possible as first severe weather of spring arrives in Mississippi
‘Most likely there will be a tornado watch or two and numerous warnings through the day and into the evening. That’s what we’re projecting. We’re talking the potential for intense tornadoes.’
What to do in the event of a tornado
The CDC has the following tips for what to do in the event of a tornado. 8/14/24
The entire state of Mississippi faces the threat of severe storms and tornadoes on Tuesday and some of those tornadoes could be strong.
“We’ve got an enhanced risk of severe storms,” said senior meteorologist Mike Edmonston of the National Weather Service in Jackson. “The main threat is tornadoes.”
According to the NWS Jackson, western parts of Mississippi will begin seeing the threat of severe weather about noon as the storm system moves easterly across the state. However, damaging wind gusts of 45-50 miles per hour may move into the state earlier Tuesday morning.
The driver of the storm front is an intense low pressure system with warm, moist air creating instability and wind shear. The area included in the Enhanced Risk category faces the possibility of strong tornadoes.
According to the National Weather Service, strong tornadoes are those classified as EF2 and EF3 with wind speeds of 111-165 miles per hour.
“Most likely there will be a tornado watch or two and numerous warnings through the day and into the evening,” Edmonston said. “That’s what we’re projecting. We’re talking the potential for intense tornadoes.”
Tornadoes, damaging wind and hail possible in Mississippi on Tuesday
While wind gusts up to 45-50 miles per hour may enter the state Tuesday morning. As the strongest part of the storm moves through, gusts could reach 70 miles per hour in the area of Enhanced Risk and 60 miles per hour in the areas of Slight Risk.
Hail may also be a factor. Edmonston said the storm could produce hail up to the size of quarters as it passes through.
In the Jackson area along the I-55 corridor, the most intense time of the system will be from about 2-6 p.m. according to the National Weather Service in Jackson.
National Weather Service forecast for the Jackson, Mississippi area
- Monday: High 68 degrees, partly sunny
- Tuesday: Low 53 degrees, high 74 degrees, storms after noon into Tuesday night with some possibly severe, wind advisory
- Wednesday: Low 48 degrees, high 59 degrees, sunny
- Thursday: Low 36 degrees, high 59 degrees, mostly sunny
- Friday: Low 43 degrees, high 73 degrees, mostly cloudy
National Weather Service forecast for the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area
- Monday: High 71 degrees, mostly sunny
- Tuesday: Low 52 degrees, high 76 degrees, storms after noon into Tuesday night with some possibly severe, wind advisory
- Wednesday: Low 52 degrees, high 64 degrees, sunny
- Thursday: Low 38 degrees, high 63 degrees, sunny
- Friday: Low 42 degrees, high 74 degrees, partly sunny
Mississippi weather radar
Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.
‘We’re doing this to decrease the pressure we get early in the season. We’re trying to move that pressure on into later in the season.’
Bobcat stalks and strikes at Wisconsin turkey hunter
Turkey hunter Carson Bender of Wisconsin Rapids recorded a video of a bobcat that stalked and lunged at him as he hunted April 18, 2026 near Nekoosa, Wis.
Carson Bender
If a proposal made in the April meeting of the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is finalized, nonresident turkey hunters will see big changes in the 2027 spring turkey season.
“We’re doing this in a way to impact how hunting pressure occurs and how the harvest happens in the early season,” said Caleb Hinton, Wild Turkey Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. “We’re doing this to decrease the pressure we get early in the season. We’re trying to move that pressure on into later in the season.”
Turkey hunters enjoy a three-bird bag limit and a little more than six weeks of hunting in spring, which is similar to some other states. What is at issue is when it opens. March 15 is the typical opening date for the regular season, making it one of the earliest in the nation.
That early opening date combined with a growing trend among turkey hunters is where the problem lies.
Mississippi is a destination for early season, nonresident hunters
Possibly more than any other group of hunters, turkey hunters like to travel. For some, it may be a matter of seeing a different landscape and hunting birds under condions they don’t encounter in their home state. For others it may be a quest to harvest each of the subspecies in North America.
For yet another group, it’s the challenge of harvesting a gobbler in each of the 49 states that have turkeys.
“It seems to be getting more and more popular every year,” Hinton said.
Regardless of why a turkey hunter chooses to travel, it puts a target on Mississippi’s back because for the first few weeks of the season, it’s almost the only game in town, so hunters flock to the state.
In an effort to curb the amount of hunting pressure in those first weeks of turkey season, MDWFP proposed limiting nonresident hunters to two legal gobblers per season and only one of those can be harvested before April 1.
“Hopefully, it will help curb the massive influx of pressure we get the first week or two of the season,” Hinton said.
When will turkey season changes for nonresidents be voted on?
The proposed changes aren’t the first that have been geared toward alleviating pressure on turkeys in the early part of the season by nonresidents. In 2022, the commission passed a rule requiring nonresident hunters to enter a drawing for a hunt on public land during the first two weeks of turkey season. Currently, the number of hunters drawn is limited to 800.
Like that change, the current proposal will pass or fail by a vote of the wildlife commission. In the April commission meeting, the proposal passed an initial vote. It is now in a 30-day public comment period and a final vote will be taken in the May meeting.
Public comments may be submitted at https://www.mdwfp.com/proposed-rules-regulations.
A lifelong outdoorsman and wildlife enthusiast, Brian Broom has been writing about hunting, fishing and Mississippi’s outdoors for the Clarion Ledger for more than 14 years. He can be reached at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.
Mississippi
Mississippi high school addresses social media post, says it won’t tolerate racism or harassment
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – A Mississippi high school has made a statement after a social media post involving a student surfaced.
Northeast Lauderdale High School officials say they’re reviewing a social media post involving a student.
In a statement, the school said administrators are aware of the post and are “reviewing the situation.”
The school said it is committed to maintaining a safe, orderly and respectful environment for students and staff.
“Neither our district nor our school accept or condone racism, discrimination, harassment, or behavior that is inconsistent with the expectations of our school community,” the statement said.
Officials said they are working with the appropriate parties and will address the matter in accordance with district policies and procedures.
The school added that it cannot share additional details because of student privacy laws.
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(This story was updated to add new information.)
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball starting pitcher Ryan McPherson exited his May 9 return against Auburn with an ankle injury, according to coach Brian O’Connor.
McPherson tripped behind home plate while backing up a potential throw in the second inning and limped back to the mound. The MSU coaches and trainer examined McPherson before pulling him.
McPherson was making his first start since March 20 after suffering a forearm strain.
The No. 11 Bulldogs (38-14, 15-12 SEC) trailed the No. 6 Tigers (35-15, 16-11) by one run with one out in the inning before getting run-ruled 13-2 in seven innings at Dudy Noble Field.
McPherson threw 34 pitches in 1⅓ innings with one earned and one unearned run allowed, two hits, no walks and no strikeouts.
He did not throw a practice pitch while being examined, and he didn’t limp as he walked into the dugout, either.
Ryan McPherson injury update from Brian O’Connor
O’Connor revealed after the game that McPherson was on a 40-pitch limit, so he was likely going to get pulled soon anyway.
“I would hate for the young man to have a setback because he goes out there and tries to throw to another batter or two and changes this delivery because of an ankle (injury),” O’Connor said. “So that’s what went into that decision. It’s unfortunate, but it was good to get him back out there.”
McPherson, a sophomore, missed six straight starts with his forearm injury. He took Charlie Foster’s spot in the pitching rotation for the Auburn series.
One series remains at Texas A&M before the SEC Tournament.
“We’ll see how he recovers from this and then to see what his availability will be for next weekend,” O’Connor said.
Ryan McPherson stats
McPherson was charged with the loss, dropping his record to 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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