JACKSON – A line of severe weather pushed into Mississippi on Friday, threatening to produce large hail, heavy rain and tornadoes. Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties were among most of northeast Mississippi put under a tornado watch Friday morning as the storms moved through.
The National Weather Service also issued a tornado watch for much of northwest Alabama, and all Golden Triangle areas were placed under a severe thunderstorm warning Friday morning.
There were already reports of damage early Friday in Mississippi as the severe line of weather pushed in from the west. The same line of storms produced a tornado that killed two people in Oklahoma. At least three others died in Arkansas.
Brian Koeneke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, said winds up to 60 miles per hour were reported in Washington County early Friday morning. The roof blew off a mobile home in Leflore County. Trees and power lines were also knocked down in that area.
Koeneke said nearly 25 counties in Mississippi were under tornado watch early Friday. The threat of severe weather is expected to last into the evening for much of Mississippi.
“It looks like it”s going to be a volatile set up,” Koeneke said. “We could have a few tornados and there”s the possibility for a strong tornado.”
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