Update: Severe storms remain threat for South Mississippi Thursday afternoon and evening
Just over a week after five tornadoes tore across South Mississippi including the Hattiesburg area, more severe storms including tornadoes are possible for the region.
The Storm Prediction Center on Wednesday placed all of central and southern Mississippi under the threat for severe storms on Thursday.
However, the National Weather Service says the best risk for severe storms including tornadoes will be across South Mississippi, where the best return in gulf moisture and instability will exist.
"Severe storms are possible Thursday from midday through evening as a potent disturbance swings across the region into a sheared and moderately unstable air mass," the NWS said.
"The most intense storms capable of damaging wind gusts to at least 60 mph and large hail are most likely along and south of the Highway 84 corridor where instability should be highest. A few tornadoes will be possible," the NWS added.
In addition to the severe storms, flooding is also a concern, considering soil conditions are very saturated from plentiful rainfall in a winter season that has become one of the wettest on record in the state.
"Widespread heavy rain is expected with this event, and extending late Thursday into Friday as a frontal boundary briefly stalls in the vicinity," the NWS said.
Rainfall amounts of one to four inches are likely across Mississippi with locally higher amounts possible, particularly over southern Mississippi.
While the primary severe weather season typically ramps up during the spring months of March and April, it has already been active for severe storms in the state with at least nine tornadoes confirmed so far.
Everyone should continue to monitor the latest weather information as it becomes available.
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