UPDATE: The NWS this evening upgraded the forecast for Sunday, April 19 from Enhanced to Moderate Risk for severe weather in the Pine Belt Region, which makes the possibility of tornadoes more likely. Make plans now to prepare for another round of severe weather. The timing as been changed for severe weather to begin in the Pine Belt Region around 1 p.m. and continue until 12 a.m. SEE UPDATED GRAPH ABOVE.
Another round of severe weather is forecast for this Sunday in Jones County and the surrounding areas. After a Saturday morning briefing with the National Weather Service in Jackson, Jones County EMA Director Paul Sheffield reported little change in the forecast since Friday afternoon. The entire Pine Belt area is under an Enhanced Risk for severe weather with possible damaging winds up to 70 mph, large hail up to tennis ball size, and tornadoes. The timing of the severe weather in our area is expected to begin late Sunday morning and continue through Sunday evening. Flash flooding is likely with 3” to 5” of rain in less than three hours possible.
National Weather Service in Jackson
According to Sheffield, a plan is in place to open the shelter in Laurel and provide transportation to the shelter for those in the Easter Sunday Tornado destruction area who may have no transportation. More information about this will be reported as soon as we receive it.
Once again, stay tuned to your local source for severe weather updates on Sunday and stay safe!