As we mentioned over the weekend, we’ll have a decent chance for our first severe weather event of 2024 Monday evening and overnight into Tuesday.

With the latest update from the Storm Prediction Center, the threat for severe weather has increased with a “hatched” area for tornadoes included. The severe threat will begin as early as 6 p.m., but some of us will have rain and storms below the severe threshold throughout the day.

A Level 1 risk includes the Mississippi Delta and north-central eastern Mississippi. Communities include Greenville, Greenwood, Eupora, Columbus, Yazoo City, Philadelphia, and Vicksburg. In this area, damaging wind gusts and isolated severe storms are the primary threats.

A Level 2 zone includes Natchez, Brookhaven, Jackson, Magee, Laurel, and Meridian.  A few tornadoes are possible, along with damaging winds up to 70 miles per hour, large hail, and heavy rainfall.

A Level 3 covers the rest of the state from Hattiesburg south to the Gulf Coast and includes Picayune, Wiggins, McComb, Columbia, and the beach communities. In the Level 3, most of the area is included in the emphasized “hatched” zone for large tornadoes being possible. These storms could be especially dangerous as they are likely to occur overnight. All other modes of severe weather are included in this zone.

Storms are expected as early as 6 p.m. along the Mississippi River, moving out of western Mississippi by 11 p.m. Central Mississippi (horizontally) can expect storms by 9 p.m. with the severe threat ending in eastern Mississippi by 3 a.m.

We can also expect very strong winds away from thunderstorms across the state.

North Mississippi

A chance for showers and storms during the day, then showers and storms likely in the evening. High of 52. Windy, with gusts up to 35 miles per hour. Showers and thunderstorms Monday night with a low of 42. Windy.

Central Mississippi

Showers likely during the day with thunderstorms also possible in the afternoon. Some of the storms could be strong. Frost early with a high of 53. Windy, with gusts as high as 45 miles per hour. Showers overnight with storms possible. A storm or two could be strong to severe. Windy with a low of 43. Gusts as high as 45 miles per hour possible.

South Mississippi

A shower or storm possible in the morning, then becoming more numerous in the afternoon. High of 60 with wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour possible. Showers and storms with some storms strong to severe. Low of 46. Wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour and several inches of rain are possible.

Gulf Coast

A few showers and storms in the day, becoming more numerous in the afternoon. Some of the storms could be strong. High of 68 and windy with gusts up to 45 miles per hour possible.  Showers likely in the evening and overnight with thunderstorms possible. A few storms could be strong to severe. Fog in the evening with a low of 48. Wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour possible.