Severe weather in store

A slow-moving low-pressure system that has been making its way across Texas and Louisiana moved into South Mississippi late Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Slidell issued a coastal flood warning and a flash-flood watch for the Mississippi Coast through Saturday, estimating 6 to 10 inches of rain and minor to moderate coastal flooding with tides 1½ to 3½ feet above normal.

A flood warning also was issued for the Wolf River above Gulfport through Sunday morning. Flood stage is 8 feet, at which parts of Bells Ferry Road flood. The river is expected to rise to 8½ feet by Saturday afternoon.

Heavy rain is in the forecast for the Coast with a 100 percent chance Friday and Saturday.

The weather service advised Thursday the low-pressure system will move out of the area more slowly than anticipated, so rain will likely linger into Saturday evening.

A flash-flood watch remains in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday for the three coast

al counties with heavy rainfall of up to 12 inches in some low-lying areas.

There were reports of street flooding Thursday morning in Hancock County, though most of it had receded by late afternoon.

At one point Thursday night, more than 4,100 customers were without power in Harrison County, though by 10:30 p.m., all but around 600 had power restored.

Hancock County Emergency Management Director Brian Adam said the flooding was due to the high winds that have been in the area for the past couple of days.

"This wind is keeping the tide from receding," he said. "Now, we have a good chance of some really heavy rains for the next three days, so people can expect more flooding."

Heavy winds hit the Coast on Wednesday, blowing large amounts of sand onto U.S. 90. The weather service estimated strong southeasterly and southerly winds ranging 15 to 25 mph with gusts of up to 30 mph today.

To help fend off rising waters, emergency officials are offering free sand to Coast residents.

Harrison County Emergency Management Director Rupert Lacy said sand will be available at all five Harrison County Work Centers.

"We don't have sandbags," Lacy said. "We're asking everyone to bring a shovel and a heavy-duty garbage bag and fill the bag about halfway up and that will equal one sand bag."

Hancock County

-- Hancock County Horse Arena, 4184 Kiln-DeLisle Road, Kiln

-- Lakeshore Community Center, 6440 Lower Bay Road, Lakeshore

-- Old county complex, 3068 Longfellow Road, Bay St. Louis

Harrison County

-- D'Iberville Work Center, 10085 1st Ave., D'Iberville

-- Long Beach Work Center, 605 North Seal Ave., Long Beach

-- Lyman Work Center, 15001 County Farm Road, Gulfport

-- Orange Grove Work Center, 8300 34th Ave., Gulfport

-- Woolmarket Work Center, 16395 Old Woolmarket Road, Biloxi

Jackson County

-- Central Division Roads Department, 8500 Jim Ramsey Road, Vancleave

-- East Division Roads Department, 10825 Mississippi 63, Escatawpa

-- Forts Lake Fire Department, 10701 Forts Lake Road, Moss Point

-- Gulf Park/St. Andrews Fire Department, 1401 Elm St., Ocean Springs

-- Pascagoula Recycling Center, 4011 14th St., Pascagoula

-- Pascagoula Public Works, 4011 14th St., Pascagoula

-- West Division Roads Department, N. Washington Ave. (Mississippi 609), Vancleave

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 11:17 PM with the headline "Severe weather in store ."