The Vicksburg Warren School District will close schools early Monday because of severe weather that is forecast to move into the area this afternoon and evening.

The VWSD will release elementary students at 1:30 p.m. and junior high and high school students at 3 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, severe thunderstorms packing high winds, hail and possibly tornadoes will move through the area between about 3 and 11 p.m.

Some isolated supercell thunderstorms will be followed by a squall line of stronger storms. The system will not fully leave the area until early the predawn hours Tuesday morning, and some rain may linger.

The NWS issued a Level 3 enhanced risk advisory — on a scale of 1 to 5 — for an area stretching from Cleveland south to Natchez, Brookhaven and Hattiesburg.

An enhanced risk means winds up to 70 mph, quarter-sized hail and tornadoes are possible with some thunderstorms. Up to two inches of rain is also forecast, which could lead to flash flooding.

In addition, a wind advisory has been issued for the same area through 1 a.m. Sustained winds of 25 mph, with gusts to 40 to 50 mph are expected through the day and evening.