By Hubert Yates
Correspondent
JACKSON, Miss. (Special) — The National Weather Service and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency are forecasting/warning of a high potential for a severe weather event across the State of Mississippi for Wednesday/Wednesday night (03/30/2022).
Currently, the northern counties of Mississippi (Tunica, Desoto, Tate, Marshall, Tippah, Benton, Alcorn, & Tishomingo) and the extreme southern counties of Mississippi (Gulf Coast Counties — Harrison, Hancock, Jackson) are forecast at an ENHANCED RISK (3/5) level with the remainder of the state between these two areas at a MODERATE RISK (4/5) level.
All forms of severe weather are possible, including high winds, tornadoes, heavy rain, flash flooding, and hail. Of particular concern with this system is the risk of high winds. Sustained southerly winds of 25-35 mph are likely statewide beginning Wednesday morning, with gusts to 50-80 miles per hour possible as the system moves through later in the day.
These winds ahead of and with the squall line will be sufficient to bring down trees and power lines. Travel in tall, high-profile vehicles will likely be difficult.
The timing of the system appears to be fairly fast moving. The line should be near the Mississippi River roughly around noon (though some models show closer to 1 p.m.), progressing to around the Interstate 55 corridor by around 4 p.m.-5 p.m. and exiting the eastern Mississippi counties around 8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Unlike last week, the forecast does not call for or expect discrete cells to form ahead of the line with this system. Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief is monitoring the situation and is placing chainsaw/debris removal teams and individual volunteers on standby for potential deployment later this week.
Yates is disaster relief director for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. He may be contacted at hyates@mbcb.org. To track local and national weather conditions, visit https://www.weather.gov/.
