The rain just keeps coming for Mississippi with yet another storm system set to impact the state this weekend.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for much of western and all of northern Mississippi beginning at noon Saturday and continuing through Sunday afternoon.
The watch covers the counties of Adams, Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Claiborne, Coahoma, De Soto, Franklin, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Marshall, Monroe, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Warren, Washington, Yalobusha and Yazoo.
"Deep moisture plume will spread north into the region ahead of an approaching cold front that will produce periods of widespread heavy rainfall across the affected areas. Moist soil conditions currently in place from previous rainfall will increase rainfall runoff rates," the NWS said.
Excessive rainfall amounts of up to three to five inches are likely with locally higher amounts.
Many areas across the state have seen in excess of 10 inches of rainfall since December with at least two to three inches coming over the first 11 days of this month.
The city of Vicksburg, which is included in the flash flood watch, has seen nearly 20 inches of rainfall since December with nine inches of that so far this month.
A daily record 5.37 inches fell just this past Thursday alone in the city, prompting mudslides and high water rescues.
In Jackson, nearly 12 inches of rainfall has occurred since December with 3.12 inches so far this month as of Friday. The capital city is not currently under the flash flood watch now but could be included later as the main area of heavy rain shifts south and east on Sunday.
This is again is a dangerous weather situation unfolding considering ground conditions for much of the state are near or at saturation.
If you reside in a flood prone area or in an area where creeks, rivers and streams are running high, you are strongly advised to be prepared to move to higher ground in case your area is threatened.
Occasionally rainfall is expected continue into early next week and with much colder air filtering back into the state late Sunday through Tuesday, could result in some wintry precipitation for portions of northern Mississippi. This is another developing weather situation that is being monitored closely.
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