Spring severe weather awarness week starts Sunday

Published 1:30 pm Friday, February 7, 2025

JACKSON — Governor Reeves declared Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi to be February 9-15, 2025. Last year, 85 tornadoes touched down in Mississippi, including 22 in the Spring. On April 8-11, 2024, 13 tornadoes, severe storms, flooding and straight-line winds impacted six counties causing widespread damage and two deaths.

“It’s important to be prepared for severe weather, particularly in the spring,” Reeves said. “I encourage every Mississippian to review their severe weather preparedness plan or create one, if they haven’t already. Having a plan in place before a disaster strikes can save lives.”

Forecasts call for rain next week but not severe weather as of Friday afternoon.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is partnering with the National Weather Service to highlight the different types of severe weather and ways to prepare for the upcoming spring severe weather season.

“Severe weather can mean more than tornadoes,” says MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney. “Mississippi is prone to damaging wind, hail, flooding, and lightning associated with severe weather. It’s important for everyone to have multiple ways to receive alerts and have a pre-identified safe place to go. I encourage all Mississippians to use this week to prepare for the upcoming spring severe weather season.”

Each day of Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week, MEMA will use informational graphics, videos, and engaging content to help inform Mississippians on how to prepare. Keep up with Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week by visiting MEMA’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Your local National Weather Service offices will also share additional severe weather information. Four National Weather Service offices cover Mississippi: Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans, and Mobile.