Severe weather causing some Miss-Lou Halloween events to change
Published 12:13 am Thursday, October 31, 2013
NATCHEZ — Heavy rains and strong winds could dampen some Miss-Lou Halloween events planned this evening.
National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Bryant said showers and thunderstorms are forecast from noon to 7 p.m. today.
One to 3 inches of rain or more is expected in Natchez and Adams County, Bryant said.
“There is a slow moving front coming through with a heck of a lot of moisture, and it’s going to dump a lot of rain,” Bryant said.
Natchez, Vidalia and Ferriday are under flash flood watch until this evening, according to the NWS.
Bryant said the other threat for the area includes strong winds that are expected to reach 25 mph.
Some previously scheduled Halloween events are being moved to Friday and some to indoor areas.
The annual Trick or Treat for Little Feet Halloween event, which was scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today in downtown Natchez, could be moved to Friday.
President of the Natchez Downtown Development Association Pj Forrest said she and downtown merchants will wait to see how bad the weather gets today before deciding to move the event to Friday.
“If it’s just a little shower and looks like it’s going to clear, we’ll keep on as scheduled with Thursday night,” Forrest said. “But if it’s bad thundering and lightening, we’ll move it to Friday at the same times.”
There are no certain times throughout the city for residents to trick-or-treat, but the Natchez Police Department will have extra patrols throughout the night today.
Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said trick-or-treating in neighborhoods throughout the city will go forward as planned from 6 to 9 p.m. today.
“If it rains, it rains,” Copeland said. “There’s not much you can do about that, and it would be hard to change the day since everyone has already planned for it.”
Vidalia Police Chief Arthur Lewis asked residents be mindful of the children out trick-or-treating tonight.
“We hope the weather cooperates, but if not there should be plenty of indoor activities in the area,” Lewis said.
The Town of Ferriday will host its first city-wide “Trunk-a-Treat” event from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Haney’s Big House on First Street.
In case of rain, Ferriday Town Clerk Tamiko Hines said the event will be moved to the old gymnasium on Florida Avenue at the same time.
Ferriday Police Department officials encouraged residents to trick-or-treat within the town from 5 to 8 p.m. today if weather isn’t severe.