Christmas Day Storm update

We continue to monitor a developing storm system that will affect Mississippi on Christmas Day.  Models are agreeing on an outbreak of severe weather for southern Mississippi, with heavy rainfall and storms across the northern areas of the state.  Keep in mind that models are one thing, and the final track of the storm system may change, thus raising or lowering the severe weather chances for any given area.  We'll keep up-to-date information posted here as it becomes available.

Below, you'll find a Special Weather Statement issued this morning, followed by today's Hazardous Weather Outlook at graphics depicting the expected weather for Tuesday.

Please follow this system closely, as it may influence your Christmas travel plans.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
916 AM CST MON DEC 24 2012

...SEVERE STORMS LIKELY CHRISTMAS DAY AND EVENING...

A POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE MID-SOUTH 
REGION LATE CHRISTMAS INTO CHRISTMAS NIGHT...AND PRODUCE AN 
ENVIRONMENT FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS 
ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI...AND NORTHEAST LOUISIANA.   
AT THE PRESENT TIME...THE GREATEST RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER APPEARS AS 
THOUGH IT WILL BE CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH THE HIGHEST 
RISK SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM WINNSBORO LA...TO JACKSON...TO DE 
KALB.  TORNADOES...A FEW OF WHICH COULD BE STRONG...ALONG WITH 
DAMAGING WINDS OF 75 MPH AND QUARTER SIZED HAIL...ARE POSSIBLE WITH 
THE MOST INTENSE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

THE MAIN QUESTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS HOW 
FAR NORTH AND WEST THE THREAT WILL SPREAD...AND WHETHER THE STORMS 
WILL BE MORE SCATTERED RESULTING IN A GREATER TORNADO RISK...OR MORE 
IN THE FORM OF A SQUALL LINE RESULTING IN A HIGHER RISK OF DAMAGING 
STRAIGHT LINE WINDS ALONG WITH EMBEDDED TORNADOES. THE NATIONAL 
WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS WEATHER SITUATION 
CLOSELY...AND PROVIDE FURTHER UPDATES WITH REGARD TO THE EXPECTED 
TIMING AND IMPACTS OF THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SEVERE WEATHER 
SITUATION.

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO ENSURE THEY HAVE A WAY TO GET WEATHER WARNING 
INFORMATION AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
433 AM CST MON DEC 24 2012

ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-MSZ018-019-025>037-040>042-251045-
ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND-
BOLIVAR-SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-CLAY-
LOWNDES-CHOCTAW-OKTIBBEHA-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ATTALA-
ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-YAZOO-
433 AM CST MON DEC 24 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...
NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A COMPLEX AND STRONG STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO EVOLVE OVER THE REGION
CHRISTMAS DAY. INITIALLY...THERE WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN OF
TWO TO THREE INCHES WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS TO DEVELOP TUESDAY
INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF DAMAGING
WINDS...HAIL AND A TORNADO OR TWO WILL BE POSSIBLE. AS COLDER AIR
SURGES SOUTHWARD BEHIND THE SYSTEM...RAIN COULD MIX WITH SNOW ALONG
AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 82 TUESDAY NIGHT...ENDING AS FLURRIES WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER
OPERATIONS...WILL BE NEEDED TUESDAY AND TUESDAY EVENING.

***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***