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Urgent Storm Warning Tells Thousands to Expect Damage


Thousands of people near Jackson, Mississippi, were told to expect damage from large hail and strong winds on Tuesday afternoon as a severe thunderstorm moved through the area.

“The biggest threat is going to be hail,” National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Orion Jones, who works at the Jackson office, told Newsweek. “This time of year, hail outperforms wind as our primary threat. That’s not to say damaging wind is not a threat, but the biggest thing will be hail.”

Why It Matters

Severe thunderstorms can develop rapidly and are often accompanied by hazards such as hail, strong winds, and heavy rainfall. NWS meteorologists issue severe thunderstorm warnings to alert people to these hazards and instruct them to seek shelter until the storm has passed.

What To Know

NWS Jackson issued the severe thunderstorm warning at 1:50 p.m. local time on Tuesday afternoon. The urgent message was in place for northwestern Leake County, southwestern Attala County, and northeastern Madison County.

Each of the counties is located in central Mississippi.

The warning will remain in effect until 2:45 p.m. local time, or until the threat is no longer present.

In the warning, meteorologists noted that a severe thunderstorm was located over Newport. The storm was moving southwest at 15 miles per hour. It was accompanied by 60 mph wind gusts, which is the strength of a tropical storm, and hail.

Stock photo of a stormy sky.

jkinsey3291/Getty

“Hail damage to vehicles is expected,” NWS Jackson said in the warning. “Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.”

Hail could be up to 1 inch in size.

At 2:33 p.m. local time, the NWS Jackson office issued another severe thunderstorm warning for parts of northeastern Louisiana.

Similar warnings were also issued by NWS offices in Nebraska, Florida, and Iowa on Tuesday afternoon.

What People Are Saying

NWS meteorologist Orion Jones told Newsweek: “It is definitely possible up until about 5 p.m. that we issue some [severe thunderstorm warnings.”

NWS Jackson in a severe thunderstorm warning: “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.”

NWS in a Tuesday morning forecast: “Storm [Prediction] Center has placed a Slight Risk (level 2/5) for severe thunderstorms across the Central Plains and Eastern [Colorado]/Wyoming. Along with heavy showers and thunderstorms, other hazards supported by this system will be possible hail, strong wind gust, and risk for low-probability tornados through Wednesday.”

What Happens Next

The warning was set to expire at 2:45 p.m. local time, but NWS Jackson noted that isolated showers and thunderstorms were possible throughout the day. People in the impacted areas were urged to take shelter and follow the guidance from local weather officials.



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