3:15 p.m.
Law enforcement officials in Canton reported finding several trees down around 3 pm A tornado warning remains in effect for Noxubee County. All other warnings are canceled but most of the state remains under a threat of severe thunderstorms. Some areas also are under a tornado watch until early evening.
Power is out for nearly 13,000 customers in central and northern Mississippi, particularly in Hinds, Copiah, Holmes Attala, Calhoun and Carroll counties, according to poweroutage.us.
2:30 pm
High winds and rain are expected to cause damage through Mississippi on Thursday as a line of severe weather blows through the state.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Jackson forecast damaging wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail could impact much of west and central Mississippi throughout the afternoon and evening.
“We’ve already seen a like of about 50 miles per hour, which is pretty significant ahead of a cold front,” meteorologist Ashlyn Jackson said.
Highs in the Jackson metro area are predicted to reach the mid-70s Thursday, but will drop to the lower 50s on Friday, Jackson said.
Strong tornadoes are also possible with the storm system. A tornado watch has been issued until 6 pm for a large portion of western and central Mississippi, including the tri-county area.
Jackson said the threat of severe weather would continue into late Thursday evening. Residents are strongly encouraged to have at least two methods or receiving weather updates, like a phone or a radio, and secure a shelter in the event of damaging weather.
1:47 p.m.: Leake, Madison counties under Tornado Warning
The National Weather Service in Jackson has issued a Tornado Warning for Leake and Madison counties until 2:30 pm
Both counties, as well as Clay and Webster counties, are also under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning as a large storm front rolls across the state.
The Jackson metro area and other portions of central Mississippi are expected to experience high winds, rain and small-sized hail until at least 3 pm The eastern portion of the state, including the Pine Belt area, remains under enhanced risk of severe weather until late Thursday evening.
1:00 pm: New Tornado Warning issued for central MS counties
A new Tornado Warning has been issued for Attala, Carroll, Holmes and Montgomery counties until 1:45 pm
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Jackson have reported wind gusts of more than 50 miles per hour at the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and other central Mississippi counties.
Officials in the Clinton Public School District have announced all after school activities are canceled due to severe weather.
12:20 p.m.: Tornado Warning issued for parts of central Mississippi
The National Weather Service in Jackson has issued a Tornado Warning for Holmes County until 1:15 pm
High winds are expected to roll through the state throughout the afternoon, with wind likes of up to 70 miles per hour in some areas. Trees have already been damaged near the Rolling Fork area of Sharkey County, according to local media reports.
Roughly 8,300 residents, mostly in central and northern Mississippi, were without power as of midday, according to estimates from PowerOutage.US.
11:45 am: Schools dismiss early, cancel extracurriculars ahead of storms in Jackson, Pine Belt
Several school districts across Mississippi will release students early Thursday as severe weather moves through the state.
The following districts will release students early:
- Canton Public School District: Releasing all students at noon.
- Choctaw Tribal Schools and Early Childhood Education Centers: Closing from noon to 4:30 pm
- Covington County School District: Releasing all students by noon.
- Holmes County Consolidated School District: Releasing students at 11:30 am
- Jones County School District: Releasing all students at 12:30 pm
- Laurel School District: Releasing all students by 12:45 pm
- Lawrence County School District: Releasing students at 11 am
- Leake County School District: Releasing all students, staff and faculty at 1 pm
- Perry County School District: Releasing all students by 1:15 pm
- Simpson County School District: Releasing elementary students at 10:30 am; all other students at 11 am
- Wayne County School District: Releasing all students by noon.
- West Jasper School District: Releasing all students by noon.
Jackson Public Schools, Madison County Holmes County schools, have announced all extracurricular activities and sports are canceled Thursday.
Officials in the Clinton Public School District said students will follow a normal dismissal schedule but encouraged parents to monitor the district’s alert system and social media for announcements.
www.clarionledger.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism