Update: Severe storms including isolated tornadoes remain possible in Mississippi
Over the last two weeks, Mississippi has been dealing with occasional severe storms including tornadoes along with periods of heavy rainfall and that trend is expected to continue into early this week.
The Storm Prediction Center has outlooked much of central and all of southern Mississippi under the threat for severe storms on Monday. This does include the entire Jackson metro area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) says this will likely be a prolonged severe storm event for parts of the state with all modes of severe weather possible including tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail throughout the day into the evening hours.
"A couple rounds of severe weather will be possible from late tonight through Monday evening. This will be possible as a powerful low pressure system moves east across the region," the NWS said.
"Initially, strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall look to accompany a warm front as it lifts north over the southern and central portions of the outlook area late tonight into early Monday morning."
"Then Monday afternoon into Monday evening, instability will increase ahead of a strong cold front, creating the concern for severe storm over the entire outlook area," the NWS added.
Along with the rounds of storms will be heavy rain, which could top two to four inches with locally higher amounts in some locations, especially over central and southern Mississippi.
With ground soil conditions completely saturated from recent rains and high river levels, flooding is a major concern, specifically over southeastern Mississippi, where many areas have already seen eight to more than 11 inches of rainfall so far this month.
A flash flood watch is in effect through Monday evening for the counties of Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Stone, Walthall and Wayne.
While the severe storm and flood threat will be focused over central and southern Mississippi, all residents are urged to stay updated on the latest weather information as it becomes available.
The NWS has already confirmed 11 tornadoes from severe storms so far this year in the state including seven over the past two weeks. The destructive Hattiesburg tornado on Feb. 10 is the strongest to hit the state in over a year and the strongest so far this year in the United States.
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