Tornado Watch Issued In 3 Southern States Amid 'Particularly Dangerous Situation'

A Tornado Watch is in effect in parts of central Mississippi, northeast Louisiana and extreme southeast Arkansas through early Wednesday as the National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the weather conditions in affected areas present "a particularly dangerous situation" amid severe thunderstorms in the region.

"Scattered supercells will persist through early tonight, with a continued threat for a few strong tornadoes, damaging gusts, and large hail," the NWS said in a Tornado Watch status report released Tuesday evening.

"If the environment is favorable, supercell thunderstorms can last for several hours," according to the NWS website.

The NWS further said in its status report that damaging wind gusts of up to 70 mph and "scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter" is possible in affected areas.

As part of the efforts to urge residents to stay safe and alert for possible changes in weather conditions, the Storm Prediction Center has issued Tornado Watches effective through 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Tornado Watch in Arkansas:

• Ashley, Chicot

Tornado Watch in Louisiana:

• Catahoula, Franklin, Richland, Concordia, Madison, Tensas, East Carroll, Morehouse, West Carroll

Tornado Watch in Mississippi:

• Adams, Carroll, Clay, Grenada, Humphreys, Jefferson Davis, Leake, Lowndes, Neshoba, Oktibbeha, Sharkey, Warren, Winston, Attala, Choctaw, Copiah, Hinds, Issaquena, Kemper, Leflore, Madison, Newton, Rankin, Simpson, Washington, Yazoo, Bolivar, Claiborne, Franklin, Holmes, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Montgomery, Noxubee, Scott, Sunflower and Webster

The NWS in Jackson confirmed that a tornado was "on the ground 3 miles NW of Mound, LA" at around 7:30 p.m. Officials urged residents to take shelter and inform authorities of any damage when the coast is clear.

At 8:20 p.m., the NWS in New Orleans warned of a storm near Liberty that is "capable of producing a tornado."

Earlier Tuesday, the NWS in Little Rock, Arkansas warned that evening storms are forecast to have the potential to produce hail greater than 2 inches in diameter as well as tornadoes and thunderstorm wind gusts of up to 80 mph.

The NWS has also released a list of "good options" for people in affected areas to choose from should a tornado hit their locations. The office said basements and interior rooms of "a well-constructed home or building" are great choices.

The office noted that some of the "best options" for surviving a tornado are taking shelter in a "specifically-designed FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Safe Room" and "above or below ground" of a Tornado Storm Shelter.