Storms could bring coastal flooding and a ‘cold’ front to South MS. Here’s the forecast

Slow-moving storms will rumble through the Mississippi Coast this week with rains that could flood streets but also may cool the sweltering heat for the first time in months, forecasters said.

The storms could inundate low-lying roads and drop up to 6 inches of rain through Friday night, the National Weather Service said. Rain could fall as fast as 2 to 4 inches per hour, and multiple storms that move through the same areas could tax drainage systems and flood rivers, creeks and streams, the agency said.

The rain was expected to fall overnight Wednesday and into Thursday and could become “increasingly likely through late week,” the National Weather Service said. But there was also relief: Thursday and Friday’s highs are around 80 degrees.

Flood threat on MS Coast

Forecasters said rains coupled with winds from the east could raise tides on east-facing shorelines and exacerbate flood risk for low-lying areas. In Hancock County, authorities said water crept on to 79 roads on Wednesday. Most only had minor flooding and were still passable.

A coastal flood advisory is in effect until 7 a.m. Friday in southern Hancock County. Forecasters said parking lots, parks and roads could flood, but only expected isolated road closures.

The National Weather Service also issued flood watches through Friday evening for Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.

Three to six inches of rain could fall through Friday night, fueled by the collision of tropical moisture with a front of dry air moving south. The greatest threat was expected south of Interstate 10, including in Gulfport and Biloxi, the National Weather Service said.

Will ‘cool front’ last?

The rain will taper through the weekend as dry air moves in, said Kevin Gilmore, a forecaster at the National Weather Service in New Orleans.

Gilmore said the dry air would lead to lower temperatures that could last at least through the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to stay below 90 degrees for the next seven days, he said. But the average temperature in early September is 89 degrees, he said, and the region may not have seen its last 90 degree day of the summer yet.

At the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, forecasters predicted a 90 percent chance of rain on Thursday but said the high will hover near 80 degrees.

Rainfall changes continue Thursday night, which has a low of 72 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms are also possible on Friday, when the high will stay near 80 degrees and the low could drop to 69 degrees.

The threat of rain should pass by Saturday. But lower temperatures will stick around: Forecasters said Saturday night’s low could drop to 66 degrees.