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The Mississippi River
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Our Forecast Area is served by the
Lower Mississippi Valley River Forecast Center Slidell, Louisiana and the
Southeast US River Forecast Center Atlanta, Georgia
Hydrology Information and Background for WFO Jackson
The National Weather Service Forecast Office at Jackson is responsible for river forecasts and flood
warnings for a number of rivers in Mississippi, northeast Louisiana, and extreme southeast Arkansas.
In general, Jackson's responsibility includes all rivers and streams in the county warning area.
This responsibility includes the Pearl River basin from its source all the way to the Mississippi -
Louisiana border between Marion County and Washington Parish, the Pascagoula Basin from its source to
the Mobile, AL, county warning area, all of the Big Black River basin, all of the Homochitto River basin,
the lower Yazoo River basin from Tallahatchie County south to Vicksburg, and the Black River basin of
northeast Louisiana. The area of responsibility also includes the Mississippi River at Arkansas City, AR,
Greenville, MS, Vicksburg, MS, and Natchez, MS.
Routinely, the NWS office at Jackson issues stage forecasts for selected points out three days into the
future. During periods of heavy rain, rivers in Mississippi will often rise to or above flood stage,
which is defined as the stage at or above which river levels begin to cause damage. When a river is
forecast to rise to or above flood stage, a flood warning is issued. This warning will include a specific
crest forecast, including forecast time and date and elevation of the crest. The warning will also contain
information about when the river is forecast to rise above the flood stage, or, if the river has already
crested, information about when the river is forecast to drop back below flood stage.
The NWS maintains a network of dedicated individuals in smaller towns and cities that record temperatures
and rainfall on a daily basis. Without these people, river forecasting would be impossible, even with
our new technology. Ground truth rainfall amounts is critical to accurate and timely river
forecasting. Once a day, or more often in periods of heavy rain, these persons transmit their rainfall
reports to a computer at the NWS office in Jackson. These reports are used in hydrologic models by the
Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center in Slidell, Louisiana, to update soil moisture parameters,
predict runoff, and issue supporting forecasts for stages and crests to the NWS office in Jackson. These
forecasts are then disseminated to the public through NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, television,
and telephone.
Please direct questions or comments about our hydrological services and forecasts to Marty Pope,
Senior Service Hydrologist, NWSFO Jackson, MS, at 601-936-2189.
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