U.S. faces another weekend tornado threat following Wednesday's storms
After strong storms moved through Mississippi Wednesday and spawned possible tornadoes, the state is expected to see another round of severe weather on Saturday.
"Yesterday, we saw a warm front that lifted northward which allowed a lot of heat and moisture and instability to move in," said Alan Campbell, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, Thursday morning.
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That, coupled with a cold front that moved in from the west, produced heavy rain and severe weather.
"Just a good, strong storm system moved into the area yesterday and prompted the development of showers and storms across the area," Campbell said.
The system also produced possible tornadoes that officials will investigate.
"We have at least two potential tracks," Campbell said. "It looks like there's damage down around Columbia, Mississippi, and it looks like another potential track that moved from Covington (County) into Clarke County."
More severe weather expected in Mississippi on Saturday
"For Saturday, it's kind of the same setup, almost," Campbell said. "The entire gist is just another strong storm system moving into the area."
That will put wind shear and instability in place for potentially violent weather mid-afternoon Saturday into the evening.
"Right now, it looks like damaging wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour," Campbell said. "There is also tornado potential that will accompany this storm system as well. There is going to be some potential for flash flooding."
According to the National Weather Service, the storm system places much of Mississippi, including Jackson, at Enhanced Risk.
Campbell said the storm system is expected to move out of the area Saturday night.
After severe storms moved through Mississippi on Wednesday and produced possible tornadoes, the state is expected to see another round of severe weather on Saturday.(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Jackson, Mississippi, area weather forecast
Here's the 5-day weather forecast for the Jackson area according to the National Weather Service as of 6 a.m. Thursday.
Friday: High 62 degrees F (17 C), low 35 degrees F (2 C), mostly sunny with a 30% chance of showers before midnight.
Saturday: High 79 degrees F (26 C), low 53 degrees (12 C), showers likely with thunderstorms, some severe, after 3 p.m. Chance of rain 60%, increasing to 100% Saturday night.
Sunday: High 49 degrees F (9 C), low 40 degrees (4 C), partly sunny.
Monday: High 53 degrees F (12 C), low 28 degrees F (-2 C), sunny.
Tuesday: High 59 degrees F (15 C), low 36 degrees F (2 C), partly sunny.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Chances of severe weather in Mississippi upgraded, tornadoes likely on Saturday
Reporting by Brian Broom, Mississippi Clarion Ledger / Mississippi Clarion Ledger
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