MS News Now, First Alert Weather Blog

Dry & Pleasant; Hurricane Matthew Strengthening

Our beautiful weather continues! Temperatures are running in the 70s this afternoon; highs reach the upper 70s to near 80 under along with lots of sun and low humidity. Perfect football weather tonight; low 70s at kickoff, then falling into the middle 60s by the 4th quarter. Warmer this weekend; highs return to the 80s, but still pleasant thanks to low humidity.

Matthew is now a major category 3 hurricane, located in the Caribbean just north of Venezuela. It will likely remain a strong hurricane as it approaches Jamaica and Cuba early next week. No problems for the Gulf of Mexico, but Matthew could impact the East Coast next week. Still too early to know exact track and intensity, but something we'll watch closely over the coming days.

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

    

Gorgeous Fall Day; Watching Hurricane Matthew

A perfect Fall day in Mississippi! A cold front moved through last night, delivering the nicest air since last Spring. Temperatures are holding in the 70s this afternoon with a full supply of sunshine, low humidity, and a refreshing north breeze! Lows dip into the 50s tonight, followed by another very pleasant day Friday.

Slightly warmer this weekend; highs return to the low and middle 80s, but will still pleasant thanks to the low humidity.

In the tropics, Matthew is now a category 1 hurricane, located in the Caribbean south of Puerto Rico; additional strengthening is possible over the next 3 to 4 days. Matthew will make a northern turn this weekend, impacting Jamaica and Cuba early next week. At this point, the trend is farther east, decreasing the likelihood for any problems in the Gulf of Mexico. However, we'll have to watch the East Coast next week.

 

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

 

Perfect Mississippi Weather; Tracking Tropical Storm Matthew

REST OF WEEK: Warm today but still comfortable thanks to low humidity. Highs reach the middle to upper 80s under a mostly clear sky. A dry cold front arrives late tonight and tomorrow morning, setting us up for some of the nicest weather since last Spring! Afternoon temperatures dip into the upper 70s and low 80s Thursday and Friday with morning lows in the 50s.

WEEKEND: Slightly warmer over the weekend as highs return to the low and middle 80s, but with lots of sunshine and comfortable humidity it will still feel pleasant.

TROPICS: Tropical Storm Matthew has developed; it is nearing the Caribbean (as of noon Wednesday) and strengthening is likely, potentially becoming a hurricane by the weekend. At this point, we're expecting a northward turn before reaching the Gulf Mexico; that means potential problems for Florida or the East Coast next week.

Keep in mind, there's still plenty of time for the forecast to change. IF the northern turn happens farther west that expected, concern would increase for the Gulf of Mexico. We'll keep you posted!   

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

   

Welcome to Fall!

Beautiful Fall weather ahead! Cooler air is finally arriving in Mississippi. Humidity is decreasing this afternoon as highs drop into the middle 80s under a partially cloudy sky. Very pleasant tonight with morning lows in the 50s! A surge of even cooler air blows in during the day Thursday, knocking highs down into the upper 70s Thursday and Friday.

For the weekend, slightly warmer but still pleasant; highs return to the low and middle 80s with morning temperatures in the 50s.

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

 

Turning Much Cooler!

A refreshing shot of fall air is on the way!... Finally, after a long, hot Summer the first  true fall cold front is moving across the state today, setting us up for a stretch of sharply cooler, pleasant weather. A few showers or storms are possible ahead of the front this afternoon and evening, but nothing widespread. You'll really begin to notice the change during the day Tuesday as the cooler air blows in from the north. Highs dip into the 80s through Wednesday, then hold in the upper 70s to near 80 Thursday and Friday as a second surge of pleasant air arrives; also lows dip into the 50s! And yes, the beautiful weather will continue this weekend. ENJOY!

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

Another Hot Weekend

The heat continues into the weekend... We remain well above average today with temperatures in the middle 90s. For the high school football games, a brief shower is possible, but any rain the does fall will be brief and spotty. Kickoff temperatures will be in the middle to low 80s.

More heat this weekend with highs in the 90s and lows in the 70s. Once again, a few showers are possible, but the chance for rain at any given location is low. A cold front arrives next week, delivering a refreshing shot of cooler air! Highs dip into the low to middle 80s by Tuesday with morning lows in the 50s for the second half of next week!

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

 

Pleasant Morning, Hot Afternoon

A big warm-up today after a pleasant morning ... Lows dipped into the lower 60s in many spots!

Warming quickly this afternoon; temperatures are running in the low to middle 90s under a good supply of sunshine. Humidity levels remain tolerable through this evening, then will rise for the second half of the week.

We can't rule out a few spotty showers by this weekend, but nothing widespread. The pattern changes next week; showers and storms increase Monday in advance of a cold front that will finally deliver some cooler air by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

 

Less Humid; Still Hot

Some good news and bad news today... Good news: Thanks to drier air across the state, humidity levels are much more tolerable. We started out pleasant this morning with lows in the 60s. Bad News: still very hot this afternoon with temperatures in the middle 90s, which is nearly 10 degrees warmer than average.

Moisture increases for the second half of this week, although the chance for rain remains very low through Friday. We'll mention the possibility for a few widely spaced showers or storms over the weekend, but many of us will remain dry.

In the tropics, we have Tropical Storms Karl & Lisa; neither are a threat to the U.S. Otherwise, the tropics are quiet.

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

 

Storms Increase this Weekend

Another hot, steamy mid-Summer like day. Temperatures reach the middle 90s, which is well above the average high of 87 degrees. A brief shower is possible, but storms will be few and far between. Storms increase over the weekend as the pattern becomes more unsettled; for all outdoor activities (including football games), keep a close eye on weather conditions and be prepared for possible delays. Remember, if you are able to hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike. Due to the increase in clouds and storms, highs dip into the upper 80s and low 90s.

In the tropics, Julia has weakened and is now a depression located off the coast of South Carolina. A weak disturbance is in the Gulf of Mexico, but strengthening is not expected. In the Atlantic, Tropical Depression 12 is moving west; some strengthening is possible through the weekend. It is still too far out to know exact track or to speculate on potential impacts for the U.S., but it's something to watch over the next 7 to 10 days.

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes 

     

Tropical Update

We are tracking Tropical Storm Julia located along the Georgia Coast. Julia is a weak tropical storm and will decrease in intensity over the next couple days. We are not expecting any problems here in Mississippi.

Elsewhere in the tropics, Tropical Depression 12 has formed in the East Atlantic and could become a tropical storm within the next 24 hours. As of now, no reason for concern for us; the system is simply too far out to determine the exact track and intensity. It's certainly something we'll watch closely over the next 7 to 10 days.

Around here, the heat continues with highs in the low to middle 90s along with a few hit and miss showers and storms. Storms become more widespread over the weekend in advance of a weak cold front. It will not rain all day, but be prepared for some delays if you have outdoor activities planned. 

Be sure to join us this evening and tonight on WLBT for the latest updates! You can also find me on social media: Facebook and Twitter

Michael Haynes