Tropical Storm Warning for Lee, Itawamba, Chickasaw, Monroe Counties

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Lee, Itawamba, Chickasaw, and Monroe counties, issued by the National Weather Service in Memphis, TN, today, October 9, at 4:24 PM CDT. Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to impact these areas with gusty winds and heavy rainfall.

Isaias is currently located approximately 360 miles south-southeast of Tupelo, MS, moving north at 17 mph with an intensity of 115 mph. The primary impacts expected in the Mid-South include wind gusts up to 45 mph and rainfall amounts up to 3 inches. These conditions are expected to continue through Saturday afternoon.

Potential impacts include damage to sheds, awnings, and unanchored mobile homes. Many large tree limbs may break, and some trees could snap or be uprooted, leading to scattered power and communications outages. Roads may become impassable due to debris, especially in wooded areas, and hazardous driving conditions are possible on bridges.

Moderate rainfall flooding is anticipated, which could prompt evacuations and rescues. Rivers and tributaries may swell, and small streams could overflow. Floodwaters might enter some structures, and several areas may experience rapid inundation at underpasses and low-lying spots. Hazardous driving conditions, road, and bridge closures are also possible.

Residents in affected areas should prepare for potential impacts. For information on appropriate preparations, visit ready.gov. For emergency planning, visit getagameplan.org, and for additional disaster preparedness information, see redcross.org.