Dangerous heat engulfs Mississippi

Published 10:35 am Wednesday, July 31, 2024

BROOKHAVEN — It is never a good thing to see purple on the dangerous heat map. Portions of the Mississippi Delta face extreme risk for heat stress in the coming days and Lincoln County is only slightly better off.

The National Weather Service in Jackson warns Lincoln County and other parts of Southwest Mississippi will face significant risk of heat stress Thursday through Friday. Temperatures could reach highs in the upper 90s with heat indices up to 111 to 115 degrees. Heat stroke is increasingly likely with prolonged activity in those conditions. Wednesday’s conditions are listed as elevated risk with temperatures in the mid 90s and heat indices between 106 to 110 degrees.

Remember to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activities and if you have to work outside be sure to take frequent breaks. Lincoln County remains under a heat advisory until 7 p.m. due to the conditions. It is likely the heat advisory will continue tomorrow.

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Tuesday’s temperatures reached a high of 93 and a heat index of 101. The high temperature did not come close to setting any new records. Long term forecasts show there is a chance for above average temperature and above average precipitation up to 3 months out.

As of this morning, the National Hurricane Center in Miami predicted the tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea has a 60 percent chance of tropical cyclone formation in the next 7 days. The disturbance has a 0 percent chance of formation in the next 48 hours as it moves closer to the Bahamas and other island nations.

The current track of the storm shows it could head towards Florida and other Atlantic coast states. The Daily Leader will continue to monitor tropical storm development and forecasts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.