Storms could threaten MS Coast on busy parade weekend. See forecast and timing
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Line of storms to cross South Mississippi early Sunday, threatening morning events.
- Forecasters project 60 mph winds and low tornado risk; should clear by afternoon.
- Saturday parades likely safe; organizers urged to monitor weather early Sunday.
A line of storms is expected to sweep across South Mississippi Sunday morning, but its timing may spare the parades and Mardi Gras festivities scheduled across the region from severe weather.
The storms will move east across the Mississippi Coast Sunday morning, and forecasters said the weather would threaten Hancock and Pearl River counties around 6 a.m.
The storms are expected to reach Gulfport between 7 and 8 a.m., and Pascagoula between 9 and 10 a.m.
The line could include winds up to 60 mph and a low chance of tornadoes, said Phil Grigsby, a forecaster at the National Weather Service in Slidell.
The good news, he added, is “it should clear out pretty quickly once the line moves through.”
The National Weather Service warned earlier this week that rain could damper some Mardi Gras parades over the weekend. But on Friday, forecasters said parades scheduled to roll Saturday would likely be safe.
“It looks like Saturday is going to be a dry day,” Grigsby said.
Rain chances will drop throughout the day on Sunday, and Grigsby said skies could be mostly sunny by the afternoon.
“Everybody just needs to be weather aware early Sunday morning,” he said.
Five parades are set to roll Saturday across Biloxi, Diamondhead, Pascagoula and Gulfport. Three parades begin Sunday afternoon in Pass Christian, Gulfport and D’Iberville.
To see the full Mississippi Coast parade schedule, click here.