Severe Weather Preparedness Week Begins in DeSoto County
Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week runs Monday, Oct. 12, through Saturday, Oct. 17, across Mississippi, and DeSoto County residents are being urged to use this week to plan for the state’s second storm season. Gov. Tate Reeves signed the proclamation, and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) announced it, noting that dangerous weather can strike from October through December even though spring gets most of the attention.
The timing is easy to overlook in DeSoto County this week. Highs are running near 90 degrees, and no severe storms are in the forecast. Forecasters say that will change by the weekend, when a strong cold front moves through and the first real fall air of the season arrives.
Why Severe Weather Preparedness Week Matters in the Fall
According to MEMA, Mississippi recorded 80 tornadoes in 2025, and seven of them came between October and December. Late-season storms often move fast and can hit after dark, so it pays to have a plan in place before the first warning is issued.
“Residents need to be prepared before severe weather strikes,” Reeves said in the announcement. He encouraged Mississippians to review their emergency plans and know where they will go for safety.
MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney urged residents to review their insurance policies, put together or update a disaster supply kit, and talk through emergency plans with family members.
Daily Topics for the Week
MEMA and the National Weather Service will focus on a different hazard each day, with safety tips posted on MEMA’s Facebook and X accounts:
- Monday, Oct. 12: Make a Plan
- Tuesday, Oct. 13: Severe Thunderstorms
- Wednesday, Oct. 14: Tornado Safety
- Thursday, Oct. 15: Flash Flooding
- Friday, Oct. 16: Warning Reception Methods
- Saturday, Oct. 17: Mobile and Manufactured Home Safety
What DeSoto County Families Can Do This Week
MEMA’s checklist for the week is short and practical:
- Review your family’s emergency plan, including where everyone will meet.
- Pick a safe place to shelter, such as an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.
- Make sure you have more than one way to get weather warnings, especially overnight.
- Put together or update an emergency supply kit.
- Review your insurance policies and keep important documents in a safe place.
- Talk through the plan with everyone in your household.
Saturday’s focus on mobile and manufactured homes matters for many rural DeSoto County households. These homes give little protection in a tornado, so residents should know ahead of time which sturdy building they will go to when a warning is issued.
DeSoto County Forecast: Heat, Then a Sharp Cold Front
For now, the weather is quiet. The National Weather Service office in Memphis, which issues forecasts and warnings for DeSoto County, expects dry weather through Tuesday and highs in the upper 80s to low 90s through at least Thursday, close to record territory for mid-October. The point forecast for Hernando calls for highs of 90 to 91 degrees Monday through Thursday.
Forecasters say a few showers and storms could develop Wednesday, mainly north of Interstate 40. They are not expecting severe weather because the unstable air should stay north of the Mid-South. A cold front is expected to arrive late Thursday into Friday. Hernando’s forecast drops to a high near 76 on Friday and 67 on Saturday, with lows in the mid to upper 40s. The weather service said some areas could see lows in the upper 30s to low 40s by Sunday morning.
Even with a calm week ahead, emergency managers say a quiet stretch is the best time to prepare. More information is available at msema.org.
Related: DeSoto County Heat: Near-Record Highs in Low 90s This Week
Source: Mississippi Emergency Management Agency; forecast details from the National Weather Service Memphis
