Axios Energy & Climate Update: Severe Weather Targets the South
A severe weather outbreak is currently impacting the South, with the Storm Prediction Center issuing a rare "moderate risk" warning for parts of Mississippi and Louisiana. This level 4 out of 5 warning suggests a high probability of multiple long-track tornadoes, alongside damaging straight-line winds, hail, and potential flash flooding.
The affected areas include central and southern Mississippi, with tornado warnings already active Saturday morning. The storm is expected to intensify and spread to central and northern Louisiana and western Alabama. This severe weather pattern follows recent disturbances in Texas and is driven by a deep trough in the jet stream, which is pulling moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico.
Approximately 2 million people are in the moderate risk zone, with cities like Jackson, Mississippi, and Alexandria, Louisiana, at significant risk. An additional 4.6 million are in an "enhanced risk" area, including Baton Rouge and Mobile. New Orleans faces a "slight risk," with heavy rains expected.
This outbreak is part of a broader trend where the South and Southeast experience severe weather during the winter months due to clashes of warm, humid air from the south with cold, dry air from the north. Climate change is believed to be influencing these patterns by increasing atmospheric instability, which could lead to more intense but less frequent severe weather events.