WEDNESDAY: Winds will shift out of the north/northeast through mid-week, driving in slightly drier air to central and southwest Mississippi through mid-week. Expect highs, mainly, in the lower 90s with mostly sunny skies. While a rogue shower could still form, the vast majority of zip codes will remain dry and hot. We’ll see lows in the upper 60s and lower 70s again.
THURSDAY: Sunshine continues to shine down on central and southwest Mississippi through Thursday – easterly breeze flow will keep us quiet and dry through the day. Morning 60s and 70s will give way to seasonable lower 90s by the afternoon hours with tolerable humidity levels.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Our skies turn partly sunny Friday ahead of a surge of tropical moisture lifts toward the area. A shower or storm can’t be ruled out but most remain dry to round out the work week. A heightened chance for tropical development in the western Gulf of Mexico that will drift northward toward the northern Gulf Coast. With most weaker systems, they tend to be more lopsided with rain and storms on their eastern periphery. At this point, impacts look possible, which will likely feature periods of heavy rain, gusty breezes and the potential for spin-up tornado or two Saturday into Sunday. System will exit early in the week, but lingering tropical moisture and an approaching front will help to spark more rain and storms through mid-next week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
June 16, 2021
June 15, 2021
Heat Hits Its Peak Tuesday; Watching Gulf Late Week
TUESDAY: Sunshine looks to win out for most of the day as a weak front pushes closer to the area – out ahead of it, expect highs into the middle, to a few, upper 90s – feeling like the lower 100s with a hit or miss chance for a cooling storm. The front will shift farther south overnight, bringing in a brief push of drier air through mid-week. Lows will fall to the upper 60s and lower 70s.
WEDNESDAY: Winds will shift out of the north/northeast through mid-week, driving in slightly drier air to central and southwest Mississippi through mid-week. Expect highs, mainly, in the lower 90s with mostly sunny skies. While a rogue shower could still form, the vast majority of zip codes will remain dry and hot. We’ll see lows in the upper 60s and lower 70s again.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Expect highs in the lower 90s through Thursday with mostly sunny skies, turning partly sunny Friday as a surge of tropical moisture lifts toward the area. By the weekend, better chance for showers and storms will emerge amid the surge over the Gulf States. There is a heightened chance for tropical development in the western Gulf of Mexico that will drift northward. With most weaker systems, they tend to be more lopsided with rain and storms on their eastern periphery – something to note as we head deeper into this week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
June 14, 2021
Summery Sizzle Hits A Stride Early Week
MONDAY: After a stormy Sunday afternoon in spots; expect a slightly quieter day across the region as a weak boundary shifts away from the state. Expect a mix of clouds and sun with highs in the creeping toward the lower and middle 90s; feeling closer to 105-110. A few storms will be possible by the afternoon hours, mainly near and south of I-20. Those storms will tend to fade after sunset with lows in the 70s.
TUESDAY: Sunshine looks to win out for most of the day as a weak front pushes closer to the area – out ahead of it, expect highs into the middle 90s – feeling like the lower 100s with a hit or miss chance for a cooling storm. The front will shift farther south overnight, bringing in a brief push of drier air through mid-week. Lows will fall to the lower 70s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: In the wake of our weak boundary – expect a push of lowered humidity through mid-week, before a surge of tropical moisture returns by week’s end. Expect highs in the lower 90s through Thursday with mostly sunny skies, turning partly sunny Friday as a surge of moisture lifts toward the area. By the weekend, better chance for showers and storms will emerge amid the surge of tropical moisture over the Gulf States. We’ll be keeping an eye on the potential for formal tropical development in the western Gulf of Mexico, but with most weaker systems, they tend to be more lopsided with rain and storms on their eastern periphery – something to note as we head deeper into this week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
June 11, 2021
Hot, Steamy; Few Weekend Storms Possible
FRIDAY: High pressure will nudge in slightly – yielding lower opportunities for rain and storms with highs around 90 amid a mix of sun and clouds. Areas N/E of Metro Jackson will yield highs chances for scattered afternoon storms. Humidity levels will help push ‘feels like’ temperatures closer to 100. Storms that are able to flare up will tend to fade after sunset with lows in the lower to middle 70s.
WEEKEND PLANNER: A good chunk of the weekend will feature drier weather, but a few disturbances may drop through Saturday – bringing another uptick in rain opportunities – tending to drop rain chances for Sunday as a boundary slips farther south. All the while – temperatures this weekend will run closer to the lower and middle 90s – feeling like the lower 100s. Overnights will run in the lower to middle 70s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Our ‘squeeze play’ begins to break up as the upper ridge, now to our southwest begins to assert itself over the western US. At the same, an approaching trough will drop in across the Northeast. This will help a weak front to approach the region through mid-next week, ushering in slightly drier air. Highs early week will run into the lower to middle 90s with stifling humidity; mid-late week will be in the upper 80s to near 90 amid the lowered humidity. A daily risk for hit and miss storms remains in play through next week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
June 10, 2021
Flooding Potential North; Summery Heat South
THURSDAY: Rainy periods will be around to kick off the day across parts of central Mississippi on a scattered to numerous coverage basis. While the severe weather risk remains low – it's not zero and will be something to monitor through the day. Flash flooding will also be a concern for areas, mainly, north of I-20, where current rains and recent rains are/have put copious amounts of water. Expect highs, generally, in the 80s; though a few spots could eek out 90. Lows will drop into the 70s as storm chances fade through early evening.
FRIDAY: High pressure will nudge in slightly – yielding lower opportunities for rain and storms with highs around 90 amid a mix of sun and clouds. Humidity levels will help push ‘feels like’ temperatures closer to 100. Storms that are able to flare up will tend to fade after sunset with lows in the lower to middle 70s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: A disturbance may drop through Saturday – bringing another uptick in rain opportunities – tending to drop rain chances for Sunday as a boundary slips farther south. All the while – temperatures this weekend will run closer to the lower and middle 90s – feeling like the lower 100s. Another front will approach the region through mid-next week, ushering in cooler and drier air.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
June 04, 2021
Squeeze Play Pattern Sets Up Into Weekend, Next Week
FRIDAY: With the front still nearby – scattered showers and storms are expected to flare up once again through the afternoon hours amid variably to mostly cloudy skies. Coverage of rain may be a bit more robust than Thursday’s coverage, but generally, highest opportunity remain near and south of I-20. Highs will still manage the middle 80s.
WEEKEND PLANNER: A weak low looks to move over the area through Saturday morning – yielding higher chances for showers and storms that will tend to fade through the late afternoon hours in some areas as the low begins to lift farther north. Highs will top out in the lower to middle 80s. Rain and storms become more prevalent through Sunday as our ‘squeeze play’ set-up begins to move into play with highs near 80.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Our squeeze play scenario with an upper disturbance to our west and an upper ridge to our east will help ignite better chances for rain and storms. While it may not rain all day long – be ready for heavy pockets of rain, gusty winds and lightning. Highs will stay in the 80s into the start of next week. Localized flooding concerns may become an issue by early next week with the continual opportunities for rain. Rain coverage will begin to taper off to more seasonable hit and miss storms by the end of the week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
June 03, 2021
Warm, Muggy; Split Rain Chances Thursday
THURSDAY: A weak, nearly stalled front will slip farther south through Thursday – pushing rain coverage down a bit for areas near and north of I-20. Outside of that, expect partly sunny to variably cloudy skies with highs in the middle 80s. Rain chances click up for areas south of I-20 through the afternoon and early evening hours. Rain chances taper after sunset with lows in 60s.
FRIDAY: With the front still nearby – scattered showers and storms are expected to flare up once again through the afternoon hours amid variably to mostly cloudy skies. Coverage of rain may be a bit more robust than Thursday’s coverage, but generally, highest opportunity remain near and south of I-20. Highs will still manage the middle 80s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: The stalled front will stay near and south of I-20 Friday before trekking back north into the weekend. This boundary, coupled with an upper disturbance to our west and an upper ridge to our east will help ignite better chances for rain and storms. While it may not rain all day long – be ready for heavy pockets of rain, gusty winds and lightning. Highs will stay in the 80s into the upcoming weekend and start of next week. Localized flooding concerns may become an issue by early next week with the continual opportunities for rain, at times, being quite heavy.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
June 02, 2021
Unsettled Pattern Features High Humidity, Elevated Rain Chances
WEDNESDAY: An unsettled pattern emerges with a upticked opportunity for randomly placed showers and storms, virtually, at any point in time through the day. The higher chances will tend to be toward the afternoon and evening hours. A gusty, strong storm or two can’t be ruled out through the day. Highs will be in the lower to middle 80s; lows falling to the upper 60s.
THURSDAY: A weak, nearly stalled front will slip farther south through Thursday – pushing rain coverage down a bit for areas near and north of I-20. Outside of that, expect partly sunny to variably cloudy skies with highs in the lower to middle 80s. Rain chances click up for areas south of I-20 through the afternoon and early evening hours.
EXTENDED FORECAST: The stalled front will stay near and south of I-20 Friday before trekking back north into the weekend. This boundary will continue to help with shower and storm production. While it may not rain all day long – be ready for heavy pockets of rain, gusty winds and lightning. Highs will stay in the lower to middle 80s into the upcoming weekend and start of next week. Localized flooding concerns may become an issue by early next week with the continual opportunities for rain, at times, being quite heavy.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
June 01, 2021
Unsettled Pattern Sets Up With Higher Humidity, Rain Chances
TUESDAY: As many get back to work after the long holiday weekend – plan on having an umbrella nearby, mainly for the afternoon ride back home. Expect a mix of sun and clouds with highs managing the middle and upper 80s today. A scattering of downpours will develop – mainly west of I-55 through the late afternoon hours and will begin to trek eastward into the overnight period. A gusty storm or two can't be ruled out. Lows will drop into the 60s by early Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY: An unsettled pattern emerges with a upticked opportunity for randomly placed showers and storms, virtually, at any point in time through the day. The higher chances will tend to be toward the afternoon and evening hours. Highs will be in the lower to middle 80s; lows falling to the upper 60s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Our unsettled pattern continues through the latter part of the week. A nearly stalled boundary will help to kick off more daily chances for showers and storms. While it may not rain all day long – be ready for heavy pockets of rain, gusty winds and lightning. Highs will stay in the lower to middle 80s into the upcoming weekend and start of next week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
May 27, 2021
Summery Heat to Spring-ish Feels
THURSDAY: High pressure hangs out over the region; though a few isolated showers and storm may bubble up with the daytime heating. After starting off in the 60s to lower 70s; we’ll see highs in the upper 80s to around 90 again through the afternoon hours. Any downpours will dissipate after sunset with lows falling into the upper 60s and lower 70s.
FRIDAY: A front is poised to move through the region through Friday afternoon and evening – yielding a scattered opportunity of rain and storms to round out the work week and head into the holiday weekend. Outside of any storms that are able to flare up – expect a mix of clouds and sun with highs, generally, in the 80s. Scattered storms may continue for a few hours after sunset, but generally taper overnight with lows in the 60s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Navigating through the Memorial Day weekend, chances for showers and storm will click down through Saturday as our front slips farther south. Best opportunity of rain will be south of I-20 with highs in the lower 80s. By Sunday, lower humidity and mild highs in the 80s will return amid sunshine. We’ll quickly rebound highs back into the middle and upper 80s by Memorial Day Monday. A few isolated storms could sneak into the fold Tuesday and Wednesday – better rain chances hold off until late week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx