NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Foul weather probably won’t leave Louisiana and Mississippi until Wednesday, the National Weather Service said Sunday.
Forecasters said thunderstorms could bring damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes across both states, though the greatest danger was in north Louisiana and north Mississippi.
Doppler radar indicated possible tornadoes Sunday evening at five spots within 42 miles and two hours in north Mississippi, according to meteorologists in the weather service’s office in Memphis, Tenn. They appeared to originate in two storm cells, said meteorologist John Sirman.
As the storm cells weakened Sunday night, it appeared that none of the possible twisters had touched ground. Although one possible touchdown was reported, near the Panola-Quitman county line, officials in both counties said Sunday night that it seemed to have been just a close call.
“We don’t have any damage in Panola County right now that would confirm it. … Several funnel clouds came over, and the tail would come down and go back up,” Emergency Management Director Daniel Cole said. He said there was one wreck on Highway 6 not far from the Quitman County line, but nobody was seriously hurt.
The first Doppler sign was near Lambert, 16 miles east of Clarksdale. The second was 13 miles northeast of that, just before 6 p.m. near Curtis Station, or 13 miles west of Batesville. At 6:30 p.m., a third tornado warning was called for a twister 14 miles east of Helena at Gerlach Mill, 21 miles due north of Lambert. At 6:45 p.m., 27 miles east of Lambert, an apparent twister was spotted near John W. Kyle State Park, 27 miles northeast of Lambert and 24 miles east of Gerlach Mill. And another 16 miles northeast, at Tyro, about 7 p.m.
Predictions of foul weather prompted Barksdale Air Force Base to cancel the second day of its air show, which brought thousands to the base on Saturday.
Storms are expected to stall over the area, bringing the possibility of flash floods and river floods through Tuesday.
Northeast Louisiana and north and central Mississippi are likely to get the worst in the two-state area, but all kinds of severe weather will be possible across both states, forecasters said.
The heaviest rains were expected Monday evening into Tuesday, with heavy rains possible again Tuesday afternoon and evening.
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