The chart above is the average number of thunderstorm days a year across the nation. RED is over 70...BROWN is 50 to 70 days...GREEN is 30 to 50 days...YELLOW is 10 to 30 days and no real color is under 10. In Mississippi the state averages 50 to 70 thunderstorm days per year...with Southern Mississippi having upwards to over 70.

Thunderstorms are most likely to happen in the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and evening hours but can occur year-round and at all hours.

• Along the Gulf Coast and across the southeastern western states, most thunderstorms occur during the afternoon.
• Thunderstorms frequently occur in the late afternoon and at night in the Plains states.
• Thunder and lightning occasionally accompany snow or freezing rain. During the blizzard of March of 1993, lightning resulted in power outages near Washington, D.C.!
• In Mississippi more storms occur over the southern portion of the state...where access to moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is more plentiful.

Who is Most At Risk From Thunderstorms

From Lightning;

• People who are: outdoors, especially under or near tall trees; in or on water; or on or near hilltops.

From Flooding:

• People who are in automobiles when flash flooding occurs near them.

From Tornadoes:

• People who are in mobile homes and automobiles.