A distant roll of thunder, like a timpani building to a crescendo, has been heralding thunderheads in South Mississippi this morning.

Can rain be far behind? Looping radar from AccuWeather at sunherald.com/weather shows small clusters of rain moving through the area today and severe storm warnings have been issued.

The National Weather Service's Doppler radar indcates strong thunderstorms near Diamondhead moving northeast and is expected to affect Long Beach, Lyman and Gulfport.

Primary threats are from pea- to dime-sized hail and wind gusts near 40 mph.

Residents are advised to take shelter.

Sunherald.com will update as information becomes available. You also can track the storms at sunherald.com