Extreme Weather: Flood Warnings Issued Across Mississippi As Jackson Mayor Urges Evacuation

Multiple flood warnings have been issued across different locations in Mississippi as the Mayor of Jackson urged residents to leave the area. Heavy rains in the state are expected to bring floods in different counties across the state, particularly in counties near the Pearl River.

Speaking with CNN's Pamela Brown on Sunday evening, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said the local governments want residents "to get out and be prayerful that the worst does not come." Lumumba said authorities "don't want to risk the potential that it could happen and they be present within their homes."

Earlier Sunday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a State of Emergency. In a tweet confirming the declaration, Reeves said the decision was made to "allow our state agencies to better assist in our response efforts and carry out their emergency responsibilities."

Tate also said that according to recent projections, the Pearl River "is likely to continue rising and crest on Monday." Earlier projections indicated that the Pearl River could reach up to 36 feet and crest by Tuesday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has since issued flood warnings in the following areas:

Flood Warning effective through Monday evening

• Tallahala Creek in Laurel – affecting Jones County

Flood Warning effective through Tuesday afternoon

• Pearl River at Edinburg – affecting Leake County

Flood Warning effective through Wednesday morning:

• Big Black River near Bentonia – affecting Yazoo and Madison Counties

Flood Warning effective through Thursday morning

• Pearl River near Carthage – affecting Rankin and Madison Counties

Flood Warning effective through Friday afternoon

• Big Black River near Bovina – affecting Hinds and Warren Counties

Flood Warnings effective until further notice

• Pearl River near Rockport – affecting Marion County
• Pearl River near Monticello – affecting Lawrence County
• Pearl River at Jackson
• Pearl River near Columbia
• Pearl River near Bogalusa – affecting Hancock, St. Tammany and Washington Counties
• Pascagoula River in Graham Ferry – affecting Jackson County
• Chickasawhay in Leakesville – affecting Wayne, George and Greene Counties

Meanwhile, several flood warnings have also been issued for the following locations in Mississippi's neighbor Louisiana:

Flood Warning effective through Tuesday morning

• Bogue Chitto River near Bush – affecting St. Tammany Parish

Flood Warning effective through Friday evening

• Boeuf River near Fort Necessity – affecting Franklin Parish

Flood Warning effective until further notice

• Pearl River near Pearl River County – affecting Hancock, St. Tammany and Pearl River Counties
• Pearl River near Bogalusa – affecting Washington County

The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said in its latest Short Rage Forecast Discussion that there is a "slight risk of severe thunderstorms across the Upper Mississippi Valley" expected through Monday.