North MS escapes serious damage so far: weather threat continues into early Monday

Sunday, April 12, 2020, 10:20 pm

Northeast Mississippi appears to have escaped much damage in the strong storms that struck the southern half of the state Sunday afternoon. There were a few reports of trees down and damage to small structures, but no serious injuries or deaths reported by emergency agencies in Northeast Mississippi.

At least six people are reported dead in Jones County (county seat Laurel) and Jefferson Davis County (county seat Prentiss). Complete assessments of damage, injuries, and possibly other deaths in those and nearby southern Mississippi counties will not be available until daylight hours Monday.

There was also extensive damage in Quachita Parish, (parish seat Monroe) Louisiana, about 75 miles west of Vicksburg, MS. Many buildings were damaged there, and there have been reports of at least three deaths there. Again, the information from Louisiana is fragmentary at this time and more reliable information is not likely to come before Monday morning.

However, people in Northeast Mississippi should continue to observe caution and heed weather warnings into the early morning hours of Monday.

A narrow, but long (north to south), line of storms is passing through eastern Arkansas at this time. It may arrive in Northeast Mississippi between midnight and 2 a.m. Weather watchers believe it may weaken as it crosses the Mississippi River, but weather risks are likely to continue here until early Monday morning.