Severe weather, tornadoes expected across Mid-South

Posted on Apr 28 2014 - 8:32am by Maggie McDaniel & Logan Kirkland

Many states in the South including Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky will be enduring severe weather starting today, lasting until Tuesday evening.

According to The National Weather Service there are going to be widespread severe thunderstorms including strong tornadoes, damaging winds and very large hail.

Starting yesterday, a bigger upper level disturbance moved across the lower Mississippi Valley. This will initiate an additional round of showers and thunderstorms across the mid south, said Corey Chaskelson, a meteorologist of the Memphis National Weather Service.

“Some of these storms could be severe with the potential of large hail, damaging winds and perhaps some tornadoes,” Chaskelson said.

This storm system should clear up either late Tuesday afternoon or early Tuseday evening across north Mississippi, according to Chaskelson. In other areas the storm system should clear up earlier.

Chaskelson said weather like this is pretty common around this time of the year.

“When you have a combination of all these come together you can have the potential for strong to severe showers and thunderstorms,” Chaskelson said.

The National Weather Service has many tips and safety precautions to follow before or during bad weather. These tips include that the safest place to take cover is a basement, safe room or an underground shelter.

According to Chaskelson, the best action students can take is to be prepared.

“If there is a watch out, or before a watch is issued it is best to have a safety plan in mind,” Chaskelson said. “Once a warning is issued you need act on that safety plan.”

Chaskelson also mentioned if a emergency happens during or after severe weather people should contact their local authorities or emergency responders for help.

–Maggie McDaniel & Logan Kirkland

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