The National Weather Service (NWS) in Jackson has placed Jones County under a Flash Flood Watch beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through late Thursday night. According to the NWS, “An area of low pressure will combine with Gulf moisture to bring widespread 2 to 3 inch rainfall with localized amounts in excess of 4 inches to locations generally along and south of a line from Brookhaven to Quitman. Much of this rainfall could occur with embedded thunderstorms and in a period of 6 hours. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.”



Jones County Emergency Operations Center Director Don McKinnon urges residents to pay close attention to all severe weather watches and warnings which may be issued on Thursday. He advises, “Please pay particular attention to roadways that may become flooded. Do not attempt to drive through an area where water is over the road. Heed the Turn Around, Don’t Drown advice as it takes just a few inches of fast moving water to sweep a vehicle away. There is a high potential that with rainfall amounts up to four inches in six hours or less that flash flooding will occur and residents need to be prepared to move to higher ground if conditions merit.”



Additional information on this potential severe weather event will be provided as updates are received from the National Weather Service.