- Storms moving through Mississippi on Monday caused power outages, primarily in southern and southwestern counties.
- Another severe weather event is expected midweek, potentially bringing tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail.
- The National Weather Service predicts the Jackson area to be at a Marginal Risk on Wednesday, with a higher risk of severe storms and tornadoes further north.
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As storms make their way through Mississippi the morning of Monday, March 31, the National Weather Service in Jackson is warning of another severe weather event expected to hit Mississippi midweek that could bring, tornadoes, damaging winds and hail.
"In regards to threat, from potions in the Delta and parts of Northwest Mississippi, we're looking at enhanced risk for severe weather," said Christopher Rainer, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. "It is essentially damaging wind gusts, hail up to quarter size and tornadoes are possible."
A storm system began moving through the state Sunday and continued Southeast Monday morning. As of 7:30 a.m. Monday, 22,259 tracked customers were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. The most heavily impacted counties were in South and Southwest Mississippi.
MS counties hardest-hit by power outages on Monday morning
- Copiah County: 2,672 customers without power
- Covington County: 2,074 customers without power
- Jones County: 1,974 customers without power
- Jefferson Davis County: 1,828 customers without power
- Lincoln County: 1,597 customers without power
- Simpson County: 1,596 customers without power
More severe weather expected on Wednesday in Mississippi
On the heels of Monday's storms, the Jackson area is predicted to be at Marginal Risk with isolated severe storms possible on Wednesday. The risk increases moving north where severe storms and tornadoes are likely. Rainer said wind gusts could reach 60-70 mph.
The severe weather is expected to move into Northwest Mississippi around 1 p.m. on Wednesday and in the Jackson area, it should arrive Wednesday afternoon into the evening.
Rainer said the current forecast could change closer to Wednesday when forecasters have a better idea of what it will look like.
National Weather Service forecast for the Jackson area
- Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 a.m, then a slight chance of showers between 11 a.m. and noon. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
- Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph becoming east northeast after midnight.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
- Tuesday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 69. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Wednesday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
- Wednesday night: A 20% chance of showers before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Thursday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Thursday night: A 30% chance of showers, mainly before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Friday night: A 20% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
National Weather Service forecast for the Hattiesburg area
- Monday: Showers and thunderstorms before 2 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 82. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
- Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 68. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Thursday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
- Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Friday: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
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