Some of the MS Coast is under a tornado warning as severe weather moves through
The National Weather Service issued several watches and warnings for the Mississippi Coast for a storm that has already claimed one life and injured seven others this afternoon.
In Biloxi, power lines are down in the Hiller Park vicinity, the city reports, and people are asked to use caution and avoid the area.
Parts of southern Hancock and Harrison County were under a tornado warning until 5:45 P.M. The tornado warning is currently in effect for Jackson and Harrison counties until 6:30 p.m.
The City of Gulfport warned neighborhoods surrounding the Gulfport Airport north to Lyman to seek shelter. “This cell is moving fast and capable of producing a tornado,” said a 5 p.m. post on the city’s Facebook page.
Hancock County Emergency Management Agency opened shelters at 28290 Leetown Road and 3360 Hwy. 603 Wednesday afternoon. Anyone needing assistance can call 228-255-0942 or 228-255-9191.
At least one tornado was spotted passing through Ansley, Louisiana and heading toward Waveland and Bay St. Louis at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation reported a severe thunderstorm capable of producing tornadoes was located nine miles southeast of Bay St. Louis and moving northeast at 45 miles per hour at 5:23 p.m. Wednesday.
Tornado watches are in effect for Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl, George, Greene, Perry, Stone and Wayne counties until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
A flood advisory in Hancock and Pearl River counties will also be in effect until 8 p.m. The affected area includes the Stennis Space Center, Slidell Airport and Pearl River.
The advisory predicted minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas in portions of Louisiana and Mississippi. The area should expect to see up to two inches of rain this evening.
Residents of Pearl River County will be under a flash flood warning until 6 p.m. The flash floods were expected to impact Interstate 59 between mile markers 29 and 42; and Interstate 12 between mile markers 50 and 71.
According to the NWS, radar showed two to four inches of rainfall has fallen in Pearl River County and three to five inches are expected to fall within an hour.
A flood warning will last this afternoon through 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, for Hancock and Pearl River counties.
Hancock, Pearl River, Pike and Walthall counties are under flood watches this afternoon through 10:48 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19.
The Hattiesburg Fire Department and Hattiesburg Police Department responded to people stranded in flooded areas at West Pine and Hardy streets. The HPD shared photos of the scene on Twitter.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect for George, Perry, Stone, Hancock and Harrison counties until as late as 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
The Times-Picayune reported one dead and seven injured in St. Charles Parish after the storm rampaged the Louisiana region Wednesday afternoon.
As of 5 p.m., deaths and injuries have not been reported along the Coast.
This story was originally published December 14, 2022 at 5:10 PM.
