Severe Weather Alert: Tornado Risks Loom Over Mississippi and Alabama
A severe storm afflicting the South is expected on Saturday, with risks of tornadoes, large hail, and wind gusts up to 70 mph from Mississippi to northern Alabama. Central Mississippi and Alabama are under the highest threats, with forecasters predicting significant tornado activity. Conditions will improve by Sunday, with warmer temperatures expected for the Mississippi Coast.
A powerful storm system is anticipated to impact the Southern United States this Saturday, bringing the potential for hail, strong winds, and tornadoes across areas from the Mississippi Coast to northern Alabama. Thunderstorms are expected to reach South Mississippi by Saturday morning, with the most significant risks occurring between 3 and 8 PM as storms progress eastward, potentially producing tornadoes, hail, and wind gusts approaching 70 mph.
Forecaster Danielle Manning from the National Weather Service in Slidell indicates that the tornadoes may have unusually long tracks for the Gulf Coast, with some possibly being rated EF-2 or greater, generating wind gusts of 111 to 135 mph. Such severe conditions are rare in South Mississippi, occurring only once or twice annually, though Manning notes, “It’s not super, super uncommon, but it’s also the higher end of the severe weather threats that we usually see down here.”
The highest risks are forecasted for central Mississippi and Alabama, with the National Weather Service predicting a likely outbreak of tornadoes extending from southeast Louisiana to Huntsville, Alabama. A significant portion of land between Hattiesburg, Jackson, and Birmingham is classified at a high risk, which is the most severe forecast issued by the Storm Prediction Center since 2006, marking only the third occurrence of such a risk being declared two days prior to a storm.
The major tornado threat will commence in the late morning hours in southeast Louisiana and Mississippi, shifting into Alabama as the day progresses. There is also a notable risk for severe thunderstorms across central Mississippi, with forecasters warning of numerous significant tornadoes, some capable of long-tracking paths and severe intensity.
Areas including central and northern Mississippi, along with north Alabama and southern Tennessee, are deemed the most susceptible to tornadoes expected to remain on the ground for significant distances, with potential ratings reaching EF-3 or higher, which feature winds between 136 and 165 mph. Cities such as Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Jackson should prepare for the possibility of tornadoes, hail, and winds reaching 70 mph.
By Sunday, conditions are predicted to improve, with Manning indicating that the temperatures on the Mississippi Coast could rise to the low 70s by midday, accompanied by clear skies and no anticipated rainfall.
This storm system poses a significant threat across the Southern U.S., particularly in Mississippi and Alabama, with potential tornadoes exhibiting strong winds and long tracks. The forecast indicates that specific regions, especially central and northern Mississippi, may experience severe weather, urging residents to stay alert and prepared. As conditions clear by Sunday, the significant risks from tornadoes and severe thunderstorms highlight the importance of being vigilant during such weather events.
Original Source: www.sunherald.com
