Risk of severe weather in South Mississippi moves into this afternoon

A low pressure system will move across South Mississippi through this afternoon, prompting a Flash Flood Watch until then.

The strongest part of a line of squalls that caused damage in Louisiana on Monday shifted south into the Gulf of Mexico by mid-afternoon Monday, passing mainly south of Gulfport and Mobile.

But a slight risk of severe weather remains early today for Harrison and Jackson counties, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell.

"There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across most of south central and southeast Louisiana and the coastal waters and a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms across South Mississippi," the NWS forecast says. "Main hazards include damaging winds, large hail, continuous lightning, very heavy rain and isolated tornadoes and waterspouts."

A Small Craft Advisory is also in effect until 6 a.m. today.

On Monday the NWS issued a High Wind Warning and Tornado Watch on the Coast after gusts toppled trees and train cars in Louisiana.

Lightning hits gas main

A lightning strike ignited a natural gas main in a Jackson County neighborhood Monday afternoon, causing an evacuation.

Jackson County Office of Emergency Services Director Earl Etheridge said lightning struck a tree about 2 p.m., sending an electrical current down the trunk to an undergound, one-inch service line carrying natural gas.

"The line developed a crack, had a leak and started a fire," Etheridge said.

Jackson County firefighters and emergency services officials arrived on scene near Malory and Cambridge streets and ordered residents within 800 feet of the fire to evacuate their homes, which was about six residents.

Centerpoint Energy crews responded, shut off the gas and repaired the cracked service line.

Also Monday, Biloxi police reported emergency crews spent time responding to security alarms set off by numerous power outages.

Rain chances drop to 30 percent tonight, the NWS forecasts, and temperatures are likely to dip into the 50s.

Wednesday is expected to be partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain, and highs in the 60s and lows back into the 50s.

Sunnier, warmer weather is forecast for Thursday

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