Mississippi news: Coastal flood threat, oyster season and business ranking
Evening edition — Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Rain is moving back into Mississippi’s forecast, but the likely amounts differ sharply between northern counties and the Coast. Tonight’s news also includes a new national business ranking, registration for two Horn Lake safety classes and practical deadlines for coastal residents: oyster harvesting is scheduled to begin Thursday, while the advertised deadline for Tropical Storm Arthur physical-damage loan applications is Saturday. State agencies are also highlighting completed teacher training and October museum activities.
Thursday stays hot in the north; coastal rain returns sooner
The National Weather Service’s Wednesday updates sharpen the weekend outlook: northern Mississippi is expecting a more modest rain event than earlier forecasts suggested, while southern forecasters continue to emphasize localized flash flooding. These are regional forecasts, not a single rainfall total for the state.
NWS Memphis’s 6:18 p.m. discussion keeps much of its region in the lower 90s Thursday before showers and thunderstorms increase Friday and continue into early Sunday. Its outlook describes a welcome rain rather than an entire weekend washout. The office’s afternoon graphic suggests around an inch for much of the area; the discussion cautions that forecast totals have trended downward and would not erase drought conditions.
Temperatures should turn more seasonable by Monday. NWS Memphis expects regional highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s next week. Our temperature report covers the shift away from the unusually warm end of September.
Farther south, NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge’s evening update anticipates scattered Thursday afternoon showers and a few storms, potentially with gusty winds, lightning and brief heavy rain. Its Friday–Sunday outlook retains 3–6 inches across its forecast area, with higher pockets possible and localized flash flooding a concern. That range should not be applied to all Mississippi counties.
NWS Jackson also notes uncertainty about heavier inland totals and the possibility of patchy fog overnight. For Thursday travel and weekend outdoor plans, check the forecast for the actual destination and keep an alternative to flood-prone routes.
Mississippi places 12th in site consultants’ business ranking
The Mississippi Development Authority highlighted a No. 12 national placement Wednesday in Area Development’s 2026 Top States for Doing Business report. According to the agency’s full announcement, the ranking draws on responses from 50 site-selection consultants evaluating 20 factors influencing corporate location and investment decisions.
MDA reports Mississippi ranked second for labor-cost competitiveness, sixth for business incentives, seventh for overall cost of doing business and eighth for overall speed to market. The agency presents those results as advantages for companies considering locations in the state.
The result is a consultant-based business-climate assessment. It does not, by itself, announce a factory, a hiring commitment or a new incentive award. Readers assessing its significance can distinguish the favorable rankings from subsequent investment decisions and actual job creation. Read our ranking report for the categories MDA emphasized.
Horn Lake opens sign-ups for October and November safety classes
Horn Lake residents can register for Civilian Response to an Active Shooter Event, or CRASE, and a separate basic medical class hosted by the city’s police department. The department’s announcement and accompanying flyer provide the dates: CRASE is October 15 and Basic Medical for Citizens is November 5, both from 6 to 8 p.m.
The flyer lists 3101 Goodman Road W. in Horn Lake. Seating is limited, and the department restricts registration to Horn Lake residents. To register, contact Scott Brown at 662-510-4630 or smbrown@hornlake.org.
These are two separate sessions rather than a single evening covering both subjects. Residents should identify the class they want when contacting the department and confirm availability before making plans. Our registration report includes the residency restriction and contact information.
Oyster harvest scheduled to open Thursday at legal sunrise
Mississippi’s 2026–27 public oyster season is scheduled to open October 1 at legal sunrise. The Department of Marine Resources’ September 25 release identifies areas including St. Joe, Waveland and St. Stanislaus, Henderson Point and Biloxi Bay reefs, subject to opening criteria and area restrictions.
October harvesting runs from legal sunrise to noon check-out, and waters are closed to harvesting on Sundays. Resident commercial limits are 15 sacks daily per tonging vessel and 20 per dredging vessel; recreational harvest is limited to three sacks per licensed resident individual in a seven-day period.
The opening is limited to designated waters. DMR’s season-information page supplies maps, check-station procedures and current opening or closing information. Harvesters must check in before harvesting and check out at the same station. Because area status can change, check the map or call the Oyster Hotline at 228-374-5167 or 800-385-5902 before launching.
Saturday is the advertised storm-damage loan filing deadline
Residents and businesses still addressing damage from Tropical Storm Arthur have an approaching application date. In the SBA release carried by MEMA, October 3 is the filing deadline for physical-property damage loans arising from the June 18–20 storm.
Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River and Stone counties are eligible for physical-damage and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Eligible small businesses and most private nonprofits in neighboring Forrest, George, Jackson, Lamar, Marion and Perry counties can apply for economic-injury loans; that filing deadline is May 3, 2027.
The release also specifies a 60-day grace period after the deadline during which SBA will accept applications. Applicants should still use Saturday’s advertised date as their planning target and contact SBA about their circumstances. These are loans with eligibility and terms determined by SBA, not automatic grants. Apply through SBA disaster assistance or call 800-659-2955. This is a deadline reminder about an existing program, rather than a new award announcement.
Archives department reports 95 participants at teacher workshop
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History says its 2026 fall teacher workshop brought together 95 educators and presenters from across the state. In Wednesday’s recap, the agency says keynote speaker Brent Kenyon discussed storytelling’s role in sharing and preserving history.
The department describes resources, educational workshops and opportunities for teachers. The announcement concerns completed professional development; it does not open registration for another session or report measured classroom outcomes. Our education report covers the agency’s recap.
Pumpkin Adventure dates and visiting hours confirmed
The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum’s Pumpkin Adventure returns October 7–10, 14–17 and 21–24. A fresh Agriculture and Commerce Department announcement highlights hayrides, museum exhibits, pumpkin picking and other fall activities.
The museum’s event page lists weekday hours of 9 a.m. to noon and Saturday hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $12 for ages 1 and older, and groups of 10 or more must reserve by phone at 601-432-4500. The museum is at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson. Families and school groups should use those event hours when choosing a date. Read our October event report.
Featured graphic: NWS Memphis outlook updated September 30, 2026, at 2 p.m., showing cooler temperatures and increasing weekend rain chances. It describes the Memphis forecast region, not a statewide rainfall forecast. Credit: National Weather Service Memphis.
Compiled with AI assistance from Mississippi News Group coverage and linked official sources. See our editorial standards.
