Heavy rain, tornadoes possible as Tropical Storm Cristobal heads toward Mississippi
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Tornadoes and heavy rain are possible in parts of Mississippi Sunday as Tropical Storm Cristobal hits the Gulf Coast
Winds started picking up on the coast of Mississippi on Sunday morning, and flooding and storm surge have been reported in some areas as the storm approaches coastal Louisiana Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service says.
Tropical-storm force winds were lashing parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama Sunday afternoon, the NWS said in a 4 p.m. update.
Sustained winds of 45 mph and a 59 mph gust were recorded at Ship Island, Mississippi, the NWS said in its 1 p.m. update on the storm. Tropical storm winds range from 39 to 73 mph.
Tornado warnings were issued Sunday morning for the communities of Orange Grove and Woolmarket in Harrison County, and Big Point and Latimer in Jackson County. They’ve since expired.
But tornadoes are possible in southern Mississippi and other parts of the Gulf Coast through Sunday night, according to the NWS. A tornado watch was issued for George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone counties in Mississippi until 5 p.m. CDT.
Tropical-storm force winds, mostly in “squalls” are expected Sunday and into Monday.
Conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout the day as the storm heads for the Gulf Coast, which remains under a Tropical Storm Warning.
Cristobal was located about 65 miles south of New Orleans as of 4 p.m., moving north at about 7 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, the weather service says. The storm has slowed as it approaches the Louisiana Coast. It was moving at about 12 mph earlier Sunday.
Tropical-storm force winds extend about 205 miles from the storm’s center.
Critobal is expected to continue on its current path until late Sunday, when forecasters say it will make a gradual north-northwest turn, according to the NWS.
It should strengthen slightly before making landfall then weaken as it moves inland, according to the NWS. AccuWeather says the storm will make landfall Sunday afternoon or evening, most likely on the central Louisiana coast.
The NWS has issued a storm surge warning from the mouth of the Mississippi to Ocean Springs, where 3 to 5 feet of inundation is possible.
Surge has been reported in some areas of Mississippi.
New Orleans issued a voluntary evacuation for parts of the city as the storm surge forecast remains the same but the storm has slowed.
Showers were moving through the area Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service’s New Orleans Office, which includes parts of southern Mississippi.
Periods of heavy rain are possible through Tuesday, the NWS says.
Cristobal could produce 4 to 8 inches of rain in parts of the central Gulf Coast into the Lower Mississippi Valley, with 12 inches possible locally.
Flash flooding, along with widespread flooding of smaller streams, is likely in these areas.
Between 2 and 4 inches of rain, with 6 inches possible locally, is expected along the eastern Gulf Coast and the mid to upper Mississippi Valley and Northern Plains.
This story was originally published June 7, 2020 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Heavy rain, tornadoes possible as Tropical Storm Cristobal heads toward Mississippi."
