Tropical storm may force Mississippi football schedule changes

High school football programs in Mississippi are preparing for possible schedule changes later this week as a tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico threatens to bring heavy rain, strong winds and flooding to parts of the state.

The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane and tropical storm watches affecting portions of Mississippi as Tropical Storm Isaias moves toward the northern Gulf Coast. Forecasters said Mississippi faces a risk of heavy rainfall, flooding and gusty winds as the storm approaches.

With weather conditions expected to worsen around the end of the week, representatives of both the Mississippi High School Activities Association and the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools told the Clarion Ledger that school administrators and athletic officials are monitoring forecasts and discussing whether games scheduled for Friday night should be moved earlier in the week, likely Thursday.

Similar weather threats last week prompted widespread schedule adjustments in Mississippi high school football, with many MHSAA and MAIS games moved from Friday to Thursday.

Moving games ahead of the storm would allow teams to avoid lightning, flooding and hazardous travel conditions that often accompany tropical weather systems.

The MHSAA has not announced statewide schedule changes, but schools are expected to make decisions based on local forecasts and guidance from district administrators.

Ross Reily is a writer for the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.