Oxford dodges worst of Hurricane Harvey’s remnants

Published 10:01 am Friday, September 1, 2017

While the remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey dumped about 4 inches of rain in Oxford and Lafayette County, officials said this morning no major flooding occurred.

The worst of the storms hit the area around noon when the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Lafayette County.

A tornado warning was issued around the Paris area and tornado sirens went off for a brief period; however, the rotating clouds quickly passed over and headed toward Pontotoc.

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Assistant City Engineer Reanna Mayoral said there was no major flooding on city streets; however, city workers did respond to two trees down on South Lamar Boulevard.

A few bands and gusty winds blew into Oxford last night after the center of the storm moved into Tennessee but enough time passed between the rain showers to allow for the waters to recede from the day’s earlier downpours.

Lafayette County Emergency Coordinator Stephen Quarles said he hadn’t received any reports of heavy flooding on county roads as of Thursday night.

Area schools responded to the tornado watch and sent students and faculty into the hallways until the heaviest part of the storm passed over and it was deemed safe to return to class.

Oxford and Lafayette County school districts sent out messages saying they were watching the situation and would determine if schools should close early; however, at about 1:15 p.m., announced schools would let out at their regular dismal times.