BROOKHAVEN — A cool breeze has been swirling this morning with a hint of spring in the air. It is fitting during Mississippi and Louisiana’s Severe Weather Preparedness week we are expecting to see intense winds from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday across South Mississippi.

Winds could hit sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts could reach 40 to 50 mph Wednesday throughout Lincoln, Pike, Amite, Franklin, Copiah, Natchez, Jefferson, Claiborne and Wilkinson Counties. Lawerence and eastern parts of Lincoln and Copiah Counties are forecast to have a limited threat of 25 to 35 mph winds and 3o to 40 mph gusts.

Strong winds could pose a threat to high profile vehicles while also breaking off tree limbs and felling trees. Power could be knocked out in the strong winds and we will provide updates on outages throughout the day.

Brookhaven will be under a wind advisory from 9 a.m. t0 6 p.m.

If you would like to share any photos or videos of strong winds and damage email hunter.cloud@dailyleader.com.

Wind’s role in disease spread

Fortunately, the winds are a south wind and will blow northwards which should limit any chances of the potential spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza to Lincoln County from a new outbreak in Copiah County. Strong winds have the potential to spread HPAI by moving around any contaminated dust or soils and exposing new flocks according to the Center for Disease Control. A strong wind blowing north would blow the opposite way from any poultry producers in Lincoln or Pike Counties.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed HPAI positives in a poultry facility in Copiah County. The USDA does not release any further specifics other than the counties affected.

HPAI often results in high mortality of poultry birds and can spread quickly. Copiah County’s outbreak has affected just 30 birds but it could increase. An outbreak in early February in Leake County has affected 89,000 birds. Poultry losses suffered due to HPAI has caused an increase in prices of eggs and poultry meat.