Weather threat ‘very serious,’ shelter to open at 3 p.m.
Published 8:24 am Wednesday, March 17, 2021
The threat of severe weather in Brookhaven and surrounding areas today is “very serious,” said Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Clifford Galey.
The storm shelter in the Brookhaven/FEMA Building, 1100 Industrial Park Road, will open at 3 p.m. Restrooms and a chair will be provided. No pets are allowed, and people taking advantage of the shelter must bring anything they might need.
“Very seldom do we see this high of a chance come from the Storm Prediction Center,” Galey said. “Please stay weather aware today.”
Updated weather forecasts show showers and thunderstorms mainly after 4 p.m. until about 9 p.m. Some could produce heavy rainfall between a 10th and a quarter of an inch or higher amounts during thunderstorms.
Some of the storms may produce winds up to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. A 15-30% chance of tornados has been predicted for the area.
“It doesn’t look good,” Galey said. “I’m concerned.”