Flash Flood — Wilkinson, Mississippi

2024-01-24 · near Lessley, Wilkinson, Mississippi

Event narrative

Two roads near the Percy Creek collapsed due to flooding from heavy rainfall. Several homes were surrounded by and/or inundated by high water. A team compromised of MEMA, law enforcement, Wildlife and Fisheries, county workers and the public successfully rescued everyone in the area and got them to safety.

Wider weather episode

For the second time in January, near record levels of moisture in the atmosphere for January was in place across southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. Low level convergence aided in the formation of a weak stalled frontal boundary, which became the focus for widespread showers and thunderstorms. Strong diffluence aloft from an approaching upper level jet enhanced storms that did develop. The combo of more than abundant moisture and dynamic support resulted in areas of southwest Mississippi seeing 5 to 10+ inches of rainfall. Those areas experienced periods of flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.1500, -91.4700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1158290. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.