Tornado emergency in effect for parts of Mississippi

A tornado emergency is in effect for parts of southern Mississippi as a dangerous storm capable of producing a damaging tornado moves through the area, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The warning is in effect until 9 p.m. CDT Wednesday for areas including Monticello, Silver Creek, New Hebron, Oak Vale and nearby communities, according to the NWS office in Jackson. The agency is calling it a “life threatening situation” and urging people to seek shelter immediately.

The tornado emergency covers an area with an estimated population of 12,257 people, six schools and one hospital, according to the NWS. Pea-sized hail is also possible.

It is the fourth tornado emergency issued or continued in the area since 7 p.m. local time, along with several Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tornado warnings as storms move across southern Mississippi.

It is not immediately clear whether the storms have caused significant damage. The severe weather is still moving through the region, and damage reports are limited.

The NWS Prediction Center has placed parts of Mississippi and Alabama under an enhanced risk for severe weather, a level 3 out of 5. Forecasters said scattered severe thunderstorms are expected to continue tonight across parts of the lower Mississippi Valley and the Southeast.

Supercells across central and southern Mississippi, Alabama and western Georgia remain capable of producing all severe-weather hazards for the next few hours, according to the Storm Prediction Center.