Tropical system could bring rain over holiday weekend

The National Weather Service office in Jackson forecasts relatively mild showers and thunderstorms toward the beginning of this Memorial Day Weekend, but the storm is expected to intensify.

At 7 a.m. on Monday morning, Tropical Storm Alberto is expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast.

On Saturday night, Alberto is expected to move away from the Yucatán Peninsula and make its way northwest, towards the Gulf Coast.

NWS Meteorologist Thomas Winesett said the storm will bring heavy rainfall on Mississippi's coast once the storm hits.

Winesett says that although the showers, storms, and humidity during this Memorial Weekend will not be atypical for this time of year, more severe weather, with the threat of flash flooding, will begin Monday morning. Friday's forecast predicts up to 10 inches of rain on the Gulf Coast this Monday, with a possibility of even greater flooding.

Alberto's movement after Monday morning will take the storm inland toward southeast Mississippi, near the stateline of Mississippi and Alabama. As the storm moves inland, the flood threat will move up the I-59 corridor, through Hattiesburg and Meridian, eventually reaching the Golden Triangle by Wednesday.

Winesett encourages Mississippi residents to monitor their local forecasts over the next few days.

Even a subtle, 10-mile shift in the storm's track could have a significant impact, leading to either more severe or milder weather.

“There is decent confidence with the forecast, but this far out, nothing is set in stone, yet,” Winesett explains on Friday. “The general impact of the storm will remain the same, with the main threat being flooding along the coast and milder flooding moving inland by Tuesday and Wednesday.”

As for now, Winesett says to watch for afternoon showers and thunderstorms this weekend, expecting an increase in rainfall by Monday that lasts early into next week.