UM Officials Monitoring Inclement Weather in Preparation for Graduation Weekend

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

The LOU community and surrounding areas could face more severe thunderstorms along with flash flooding in the coming days, according to the Memphis based National Weather Forecast.

According to the NWS, Mississippi could receive more than a month’s worth of rain this weekend, along with Texas and Louisiana, in the midst of graduation weekend for the University of Mississippi.

Photo via the National Weather Service.

“For some of you, the weather this week is going to get much worse before it gets better,” NWS tweeted Wednesday morning. “Flash flooding and worsening river flooding is expected.”

Along with flooding, the NWS predicts possible property damage, sinkholes and erosion.

The university campus has already seen the effects of the weather’s erosion in front of Lamar Hall as a tree fell early this morning.

The tree collapsed in front of the building due to erosion caused by heavy rains overnight and into the morning, a member of the landscape services crew reported to Hottytoddy.com.

A tree collapsed Thursday morning in front of Lamar Hall on the University of Mississippi campus due to erosion. Photo by Rachel West.

Tonight there is a chance of showers, with thunderstorms and also a possibility of more rain and severe weather after 1 a.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 64 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch, according to the NWS’ report.

Throughout Friday, the chance of precipitation increases to 60 percent with a possibility of new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch.

Saturday’s forecast predicts likely showers and possibly thunderstorms. The chance of precipitation increases to 70 percent with a possibility of new rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch.

Inclement Weather for Graduation

Officials at the University of Mississippi said a possible decision to amend the commencement schedule will be made by Saturday at 7 a.m.

According to the announcement, if moved, the morning Commencement ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. in The Pavilion—located at 762 All American Drive on campus—and there will be no processional.

“Platform party members should report to The Pavilion media area. All attendees (faculty, staff, graduates and families) should report to The Pavilion.

Graduates should sit with their families and should be seated in the chairs on The Pavilion floor. Once the chairs on the floor are full, graduates and their families may sit in the remaining available seating within The Pavilion.

Faculty to use Northeast entrance and proceed to sections 113 or 114 for faculty seating.”

The university has plans to announce the implementation of the inclement weather plan through several outlets. A link to the information will be posted as a banner on the UM website, on the UM Emergency Website, via Twitter (@RebAlert), email blast and physical signs will be posted on the Grove stage.

You may call 662-915-1040 to hear a recorded message.

For more information regarding this weekend’s weather forecast, visit the National Weather Service; for information on graduation, visit The University of Mississippi’s 166th Commencement.