BELZONI, Miss.–Tropical Storm Francine formed Monday morning and is expected to track into Mississippi and right across the Delta. The main threats are flooding and wind. Butm spin-up tornadoes are also possible.
“Our heaviest rainfall totals will be four to six inches, with locally higher amounts,” said Mike Edmunstin, forecaster with the National Weather Service, in an update Monday afternoon.
The map with heavy rainfall showed the western half of Mississippi, the Delta in particular, with those six-inch amounts possible.
The storm was expected to make landfall in Louisiana, possibly as a hurricane, then track north through Mississippi, possibly coming into the Delta around Wednesday afternoon, with effects lingering into Thursday.
Edmunston said tornado and wind threats also exist, with the primary tornado threat over east Mississippi. But, if the system were to go just a bit more to the east, that primary threat would be right over the Delta.
“There will be a damaging wind gust threat. But, the most likely threat will be these spin-up tornadoes associated with tropical landfalling systems,” he said.
Entergy was advising customers to have all of their info updated with the company, which you can do with their app.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency also had some advice with their first video update on the storm.
“All Mississippians need to be ready. Have your disaster go kit filled with at least 72 hours worth of supplies,” said a spokesperson. “You need enough food, water and medical resources to get you through this storm.”
