Not only are officials concerned about possible severe weather coming in, they’re a little concerned it’s been out of sight, out of mind.

“You’d have to go back to early summer to find our last severe weather event,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Carpenter. “One big challenge facing us now is to make sure people are prepared and aware that we’re looking at the possibility of this system bringin severe weather.”

Mississippi has only recently begun to see rain again after a drought that lasted over five months.

Today’s weather is expected to track across Louisiana and Arkansas starting mid-afternoon, and Carpenter said the whole state of Mississippi needs to be prepared. The system is fueled by a cold front, he said, and officials are concerned about tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail.

While all of the magnolia state needs to be prepared, Carpenter said forecasters are watching the area along I-20 and south, particularly between Monroe, Louisiana east to Jackson and south to Natchez and McComb.

Carpenter says the system should be moving steadily and should exit the area by around midnight.