New Orleans, Louisiana – Severe storms capable of producing tornadoes could strike parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and southwest Alabama overnight, with a Tornado Watch in effect until 2 a.m. Thursday across a large stretch of the Gulf Coast.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, Tornado Watch 48 includes dozens of counties and parishes from southeast Louisiana through southern and central Mississippi and into coastal Alabama. Major population centers in the watch area include New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, and Mobile.
Storms developing this evening could produce isolated tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and intense lightning as they track east across the region. Interstate corridors including I-10, I-55, I-59, and U.S. Highway 49 could experience sudden downpours and rapidly changing driving conditions overnight.
The Mississippi counties under the watch include Adams, Forrest, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Jones, Lauderdale, Pearl River, Pike, Simpson, and Walthall among many others stretching across southern and central portions of the state. Coastal counties along the Gulf of Mexico remain particularly vulnerable to strong rotating storms moving inland.
Emergency managers urge residents to keep weather alerts enabled on phones, review safe shelter locations, and be prepared to move quickly if a tornado warning is issued overnight.
The tornado watch remains active until 2 a.m. Thursday, though additional warnings may be issued earlier if storms intensify across the central Gulf Coast.
