Tropical Storm Watch Issued for East Mississippi

A Tropical Cyclone Local Statement issued by the National Weather Service in Jackson, MS, at 4:18 PM CDT on October 8, indicates that a Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect for several East Mississippi counties: Clarke, Forrest, Jasper, Jones, Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, and Winston.

Hurricane Isaias, currently 480 miles south of Hattiesburg, MS, with winds of 100 mph, is moving northeast at 12 mph. It is expected to make landfall along the Florida Panhandle late Friday evening into early Saturday morning, weakening as it moves northwest into central to northwest Alabama.

Residents in the watch area should prepare for hazardous wind, with potential impacts including damage to unanchored structures, broken tree limbs, and scattered power outages. Dangerous rainfall flooding is also possible across east and northeast Mississippi, potentially leading to evacuations, swollen rivers, and localized road closures. Little to no impact is anticipated elsewhere in Central Mississippi, Northeast Louisiana, and extreme Southeast Arkansas.

Check your emergency plan and supplies. If vulnerable to high wind or flooding, consider moving to a safer shelter. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio, and local news for updates. The next local statement is expected around 10 PM CDT.