National Weather Service
Meteorologists are warning of the potential for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over a wide swath of Mississippi, as well as smaller sections of Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee Tuesday night and across the night.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center called it a “particularly dangerous situation.” Major cities at risk are Jackson, Greenville, Tupelo, Vicksburg and Clinton in Mississippi.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
“This should be taken seriously and plan to move to your safe location if necessary,” said Jackson, Miss., office of the National Weather Service. said. “Continue to monitor information as it becomes available.”
A tornado was confirmed near Vaiden, Mississippi, in the central part of the state on Tuesday afternoon. Forecasters warned that a regional tornado outbreak was possible from northern Louisiana to north-central Mississippi and western Alabama.
Hailstones pounded the windows of City Hall in the small town of Tchula, Mississippi on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported, with residents taking shelter.
“It was banging against the window, and you could tell it was good sized balls,” Mayor Ann Polk told the AP after the storm passed.
Storms in central Mississippi were intensifying, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said Tuesday afternoon, and would move northeast to affect north-central Alabama.
The weather service also warned of strong gusts of wind reaching 70 mph and very large hail.
For Wednesday, the Weather Service said there was a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms and “a tornado or two” as storms move east into Georgia and parts of Florida. Major cities like New Orleans, Atlanta, Montgomery and Mobile are in the risk zone on Wednesday.
The United States has the most tornadoes in the world, with around 1,200 per year.