The impacts of Tropical Storm Francine are being seen in other parts of Mississippi after the storm’s initial landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Louisiana on Wednesday evening.
While the Mississippi Gulf Coast was the first to receive heavy rains and high-speed winds, the elements began to move northward Wednesday night. After tornado watches and warnings issued overnight in the southern portion of the state, the elements are now in and around central Mississippi.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning on Thursday for areas in and around Brandon, Byram, Brownsville, Canton, Clinton, Edwards, Jackson, Learned, Pocahontas, Raymond, Ridgeland, and Utica. The warning is in effect until 9 a.m. with residents encouraged to move to higher ground and avoid walking or driving through flooded areas.
🟢FLASH FLOOD WARNING for Hinds County🟢
🕗Until 9:00 AM
⚠️Do NOT drive across a flooded roadway. #TurnAroundDontDrown⚠️
📍Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Jackson, Clinton, Byram, Raymond, Terry, Utica, Bolton, Learned, & Pocahontas. pic.twitter.com/eJYazmWjlp
— Hinds County Emergency Management (@HindsEOC) September 12, 2024
A second flash flood warning was issued for Port Gibson, Vicksburg, and the surrounding areas near the Mississippi River. It will be in effect until 9:15 a.m.
Flash Flood Warning including Vicksburg MS, Tallulah LA and Beechwood MS until 9:15 AM CDT pic.twitter.com/eZmVwghAL4
— NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) September 12, 2024
A third flash flood warning was issued for Anguilla, Rolling Fork, Yazoo City, and the surrounding areas. It will be in effect until 10:45 a.m.
Flash Flood Warning including Yazoo City MS, Rolling Fork MS and Anguilla MS until 10:45 AM CDT pic.twitter.com/bRvyJE56wQ
— NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) September 12, 2024
Here are updated graphics on wind gust & rainfall potential associated with Francine. pic.twitter.com/v5wCIq6qLV
— NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) September 12, 2024
NWS has also issued a tropical storm warning for several Mississippi counties until further notice. Those counties include: Amite, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Simpson, Stone, Walthall, Wayne, Wilkinson
A tropical storm warning means tropical storm-force winds are expected somewhere within these areas within the next 36 hours. The entire state is expected to see some rain on Thursday.
In addition to Tropical Storm Francine, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are tracking what they’re referring to as tropical depression 7, located west of the Cabo Verde Islands. As of Thursday at 5 a.m., maximum sustained winds are at 35 miles per hour and the system could become a tropical storm later in the day. TD7 is moving toward the west-northwest at a rate of 17 miles per hour.
LIST: Schools closed Thursday, Sept. 12 due to severe weather