Tropical Storm Karen then A Cool Down

Tropical Storm Karen will have major effects on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this weekend with hurricane conditions possible at times! This will likely be the strongest tropical storm of the season. There will be heavy rain and hurricane like wind gusts possible. Karen may become a Category 1 Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico but will likely weaken to a strong tropical storm before making it to land. Not only in Mississippi, but everyone from the New Orleans area to the Florida Panhandle needs to be aware of this.

Here is the current tropical watches and warnings in Mississippi, which includes a HURRICANE WATCH for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties, the three Gulf Coast counties.


MSZ080>082-042200-
/O.CON.KLIX.HU.A.1012.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON-
450 PM CDT THU OCT 3 2013

...HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

STAY CALM AND KEEP INFORMED.

REGARDING YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS...COVER ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS
WITH SHUTTERS OR PLYWOOD. MOVE PATIO FURNITURE AND OTHER LOOSE
OBJECTS INDOORS. BRACE ALL EXTERIOR DOORS...INCLUDING GARAGE
DOORS. DO THIS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

IF YOU NEED TO MAKE A TRIP TO THE HARDWARE STORE...THE GROCERY
STORE...OR THE GAS STATION...DO SO AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

&&

...WINDS...
AS TROPICAL STORM KAREN MOVES CLOSER...THE THREAT FOR SUSTAINED
HIGH WINDS IS LIKELY TO INCREASE. THE LATEST FORECAST IS FOR
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS FROM EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO
SATURDAY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
GIVEN THE LATEST FORECAST...THERE IS A CHANCE FOR COMBINED STORM
SURGE AND ASTRONOMICAL TIDE WATERS UP TO 4 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA
LEVEL WITHIN AREAS CLOSER TO THE COAST... RESULTING IN WORST CASE
FLOOD INUNDATION OF 2 TO 4 FEET ABOVE GROUND SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE
SURGE ZONE. EAST FACING SHORELINE WILL BE THE LARGEST AREA OF
CONCERN.

...INLAND FLOODING...
THERE IS A LOW THREAT OF INLAND FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINFALL.

HIGHEST RISK FOR FLOODING, TROPICAL FORCE WINDS, AND STORM SURGE ALONG THE COAST:

 

A strong cold front will follow Karen late this weekend and early next week bring much cooler temperatures with widespread highs in the 70s and lows well into the 50s and even mid to upper 40s in North MS.