An area of low pressure is set to move through the South Thursday, bringing threats of severe thunderstorms. This system is expected to affect the lower Mississippi Valley, Deep South and Northern Gulf Coast. The NOAA issued a tornado watch for southern Mississippi and parts of southern and eastern Louisiana until 3 p.m. CDT.
This storm has already affected parts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Tornado damage was reported in Ruston, Louisiana, including parts of the of the Louisiana Tech University campus. Possible tornadoes were also reported near the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas; San Augustine, Texas; and Midway, Louisiana. Fortunately there were no deaths reported as a result of the storms.
The storm is forecast to shift eastward Thursday, bringing severe thunderstorms with risks of damaging winds and flash flooding. Southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle will see the most risk of severe weather. This system will dump 1 to 3 inches of rain from New Orleans through Louisville. Areas that are already saturated from previous rainfall should prepare for the possibility of flash flooding.
Friday the storm will move farther east, affecting Florida and from South Carolina into southern New Jersey. The biggest concern for these areas will be damaging wind gusts.
