Mr. Weatherman gives Mississippi turkey hunters better forecast for opening day

Published 10:44 am Thursday, March 14, 2024

BROOKHAVEN — Friday is opening day of Mississippi’s spring turkey season and initially looked to be a washout earlier this week. National Weather Service in Jackson warned of potential flash flooding risks and severe storms Friday morning until the forecast changed Thursday morning.

Turkey hunters across Mississippi have likely quoted Hank Williams Jr.’s song “Mr Weatherman” this week saying “I need some blue skies and sunshine.I need a good forecast tonight.” The change in forecast came at the right time. March 15 is the opening day of the spring turkey season.

Friday will still be a wet and rainy day but the forecast has improved in terms of when storms will reach Lincoln County. Rain chances have dropped Thursday to 30 percent and 20 percent Thursday night. Friday will still have an 80 percent chance of rain but isolated severe storms and thunderstorms will arrive later in the day.

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NWS Jackson warns there is a marginal risk of isolated severe storms bringing damaging wind gusts and quarter sized hail between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday. Southwest Mississippi is no longer at risk of flash flooding according to the National Weather Service.

Rain will remain in the forecast for this weekend. Friday night has a 60 percent chance of rain. Saturday has a 20 percent chance of rain. Saturday night has a 50 percent chance of rain. Sunday has a 60 percent chance of rain.

Monday through Wednesday is looking like a brighter forecast with sunshine.