JACKSON, Miss.- According to the National Weather Service, a major storm system is striking Mississippi with nearly all counties reporting precipitation. A tornado was spotted this morning in Simpson county with damage reported.
4:41 p.m. – A tornado warning has been issued for Hinds; Madison; Rankin Counties. The warning is in effect until 5:45 p.m.
Please seek shelter if you are in the area.
3:20 p.m. – National Weather Service confirms EF-2 tornado struck Simpson County during Thursday’s severe weather.
Preliminary info: NWS storm survey team found EF2 (strong) tornado damage just E of Magee in Simpson Co. w/ damage continuing into Smith Co.
— NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) January 19, 2017
11:16 a.m.- A flash flood warning has been issued for the following counties:
- Copiah
- Franklin
- Jefferson
- Lincoln
The warning will last until 2:00 p.m.
10:54 a.m.- The National Weather Service has said that flash flooding in the Franklin area will no longer be a threat.
Heavy rain has ended in the area but motorists should be aware of continued road closures.
However, a flash flood warning for Simpson and Smith Counties is still in effect until noon.
10:30 a.m.- Damage reports confirmed by NWS include:
- Copiah: barn destroyed, trees down near Wesson, flash flooding.
- Franklin: Trees down blocking MS Hwy 556.
- Simpson: Several homes damaged and gas lead near Pine Grove Rd.
- Smith: Home Damaged near MS Hwy 540.
Conditions are being monitored by the State Emergency Operations Center.
Water has been reported on on Highway 481 west northwest of Burns. Up to three inches of rain have already fallen. Flash flooding is already occurring.
Some locations that will experience flooding include…
Magee, Mendenhall, Pinola, Union, Burns, White Oak, Martinville,
Shivers, Sanatorium, Harrisville, Polkville, D’Lo and Braxton.
Additional rainfall amounts of around 1 inch are possible in the
warned area.
9:48 a.m.- A confirmed tornado was located near Raleigh, or 13 miles northeast of Magee, moving northeast at 25 mph. Power lines and trees were brought down.
Damage reports have come in for Wesson and Copiah Counties, believed to be caused by a possible tornado.
Flash flooding is already occurring.
Some locations reporting fast rising water include
Brookhaven, Bude, Loyd Star, Vaughn, Mccall Creek, Union Church, West Lincoln, New Hope, Little Springs, Caseyville, Center Point andMeadville.
8:30 a.m. – The National Weather Service has issued a limited threat for severe weather and flooding throughout most of the state. The rain and thunderstorms will be moving slowly across the Arkansas/Mississippi area today.
A few of the storms will be strong enough to produce wind gusts that could potentially result in tornadoes.
Expect heavy rain and flooding in poor drainage areas.
Weather Forecast:
Mark Mcallister with the NWS and said the system moving in shouldn’t be taken lightly and that the most dangerous parts of the storm will take place Thursday morning.
” Some of these storms will be creating damaging winds, quarter size hail, and the possibility of tornadoes,” said Mcallister.
Effects of the storm will be spread out evenly across the state according to Mcallister. All areas should be on alert.
Wednesday night, lighter showers are expected to fall from central Mississippi heading north to Tupelo.
Following Thursdays storm a second wave of severe weather is expected to hit this weekend.
” We’re looking at some strong to severe thunderstorms with maybe some EF-0 tornadoes that might spin out of it, but we’re certainly not looking at the possibility of any significant long track tornadoes,” said Lee Smithson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
To get the latest updates on Thursdays storms follow News Mississippi on Twitter @News_MS.
