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
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