70 mph winds, tornadoes, hail as big as ‘eggs’ possible

The threat of severe weather has been upgraded for Mississippi, and much of the state now faces an enhanced risk of large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes late this weekend into next week.

“The confidence has increased some for severe weather,” said Eric Carpenter, senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Jackson. “The threat is greatest in North Mississippi.

“The main concern continues to be damaging winds and hail. There is some chance for tornadoes as well.”

According to NWS Jackson, hail could reach the size of chicken “eggs.”

“That’s basically 2-inch diameter hail,” Carpenter said. “That’s pretty big hail.”

Then there is the threat of damaging wind gusts. From a line between Yazoo City to Columbus and north, where the greatest storm risks are predicted, winds may reach 70 mph. While straight-line winds may not seem to be as threatening as tornadoes to some, Carpenter said they should be taken seriously. High winds can down trees and cause death.

“Straight-line winds can be as powerful as a weak tornado, but on a wider scale,” Carpenter said. “We definitely stress that people take those seriously.”

Severe weather is expected to move into Northwest Mississippi Sunday evening and cross Central Mississippi after midnight. From Hattiesburg and south to the Mississippi Coast, the greater threat is after 7 a.m. Monday.

More: Does Mississippi have a tornado season? Yes, but deadly storm risk is real all year.

National Weather Service forecast for the Jackson area

• Friday: Cloudy, with a high near 82. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

• Friday night: A slight chance of showers before 9 p.m, then a slight chance of showers after 5 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 64. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

• Saturday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. High near 77. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

• Saturday night: Showers, mainly before 9 p.m. Low around 65. South southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

• Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

• Sunday night: A chance of showers before 10 p.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10 p.m and 1 a.m, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 64. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

• Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

• Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North northeast wind around 5 mph.

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National Weather Service forecast for the Hattiesburg area

• Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

• Friday night: A 10% chance of showers after 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

• Saturday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

• Saturday night: Showers likely, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

• Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

• Sunday night: A chance of showers between 1 a.m and 4 a.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

• Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. 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 70%.

• Monday night: A 20% chance of showers before 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. North northeast wind around 5 mph.

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Severe weather expected in MS: high winds, hail and possible tornadoes