Severe weather threatens Mardi Gras across the deep south

A strong storm system is moving through the lower Mississippi River valley on Tuesday afternoon with a line of storms producing gusty winds and tornado warnings. This line will continue east through the night and will likely impact Mardi Gras crowds across New Orleans and other areas. A tornado watch is in effect until 7 PM Tuesday for a good portion of Louisiana and Mississippi.

The biggest threat with the storms will likely be severe wind gusts. This system is more linear in nature which tends to limit the threat of tornadoes somewhat. However any strong cells ahead of the main line would have a better chance of producing a tornado, and there could also be a few embedded tornadoes within the line itself.

The severe weather threat will push east through Alabama and the Florida panhandle overnight. Make sure you have a way to get warnings in case one is issued for your area.