Photo by Paula Merritt / The Meridian StarTravelers stop in at the Pilot Flying J to refuel their automobiles.

Drivers planning on traveling out of town for the Memorial Day Weekend or staying close to home might want to pack some rain gear.

According to the National Weather Service, regions locally and further out will be drenched with rain.

In Meridian, with the weekend kicking off tonight, chances of rain are 50 percent, with an increase Saturday and Sunday to 70 percent during the day. Memorial Day will bring an 80 percent chance of rain during the day, dropping to 50 percent at night.

Showers and thunderstorms, some severe, are expected in our region with worse conditions in the coastal areas. A coastal development of low pressure over the central Gulf of Mexico moving northward will bring showers and thunderstorms through early next week. Over the weekend, there is a possibility of widespread flooding in Biloxi and Gulfport as well as Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama.

Coastal areas could also experience damaging straight-line winds and isolated tornadoes with stronger thunderstorms.

Some local events planned for the holiday weekend have already been cancelled.The Stonewall Fire Department Memorial Day Fireworks Fundraiser set for Saturday at the ball field has been cancelled due to the weather.

Driving safety

The Mississippi Department of Transportation urges drivers to watch the weather this weekend. One tip is to avoid water on the roadways because it is impossible to determine its depth. The slogan, “Turn around, don’t drown,” should be exercised.

Another safety step drivers can take is simply slowing down and paying attention. MDOT offers free resources to help the traveling public know about current road conditions. MDOTtraffic.com and the MDOT traffic mobile app help travelers to plan their next road trip. Beginning Saturday and ending Tuesday, MDOT will not issue any permits for oversize and overweight vehicles on all state and federal highways for the holiday weekend.

Higher gas prices

Travelers can also expect to see gas prices possibly rise over the weekend. Prices are around 59 cents a gallon higher compared to a year ago.

Seventeen states have already seen prices go to $3 a gallon and higher. According to AAA, gas prices are the highest since 2014 due to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries extended production cuts and the strong global economy stoking demand.

With 41.5 million Americans expected to hit the road this weekend, seasonal factors also contribute to gas costs rising, according to USA Today.

Locally, as of Thursday, gas prices were ranged from $2.48 a gallon to $2.69 with the big box stores being the lowest. Along the Gulf Coast, prices ranged from $2.51 to $2.59 a gallon in Gulfport and Biloxi. The Alabama Gulf Coast prices ranged from $2.66 to $2.84 Thursday with comparable prices between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. .

There are some steps you can take to save money at the pump. Free apps such as Gas Buddy and Waze show you where the cheapest prices are near you. Both apps also offer ten cents off per gallon when you sign up for your first fill-up and savings of five cents a gallon after that.