MS News Now, First Alert Weather Blog

Quiet Friday; Showers, Turning Cooler For Weekend

FRIDAY: Expect temperature to continue their upward swing along the temperature rollercoaster – partly sunny skies will push highs into the upper 70s and lower 80s to round out the week. Rain chances will likely hold off until after midnight for most. Lows will dip back into the upper 50s and lower 60s.  
 
WEEKEND PLANNER: A cold front will slice through the region on Saturday, bringing clouds and scattered showers through the day. A full washout isn’t expected; but don’t be surprised with a few showers here or there. Highs will hold, generally, in the 60s – dropping into the upper 40s to around 50° under partly clear skies overnight. By Sunday, sunshine returns with highs holding in the middle 60s, while early Monday morning temperatures may dip to their lowest since mid-April, in the lower 40s.  
 
EXTENDED RANGE: Look forward to a quiet start to the upcoming work week. Monday will feature partly cloudy skies with highs rebounding to near 70°. A weak Gulf low may spark showers again by mid-next week, though highs will hold into the lower 70s. By the end of the week, a more robust system may make an appearance, bringing a better chance of showers and storms.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Ups and Downs Continue

THURSDAY: Clouds will break for more periods of sunshine through the day as high pressure begins to build over the area, at least briefly. Expect highs to run in the upper 60s north to the lower and middle 70s south. Partly clear skies overnight will allow lows in the 50s.  
 
FRIDAY: Expect temperature to continue their upward swing along the temperature rollercoaster – partly sunny skies will push highs into the upper 70s and lower 80s to round out the week. Rain chances will likely hold off until after midnight for most. Lows will dip back into the upper 50s and lower 60s.  
 
EXTENDED RANGE: By the weekend cooler air will begin to push across the region. Rain chances will become elevated through Saturday mid-day as the front traverses the region, dropping highs into the 60s again into the weekend.  High pressure build back in by Sunday, with a couple 40s early Sunday and Monday mornings. A weak Gulf low may spark showers again by mid-next week, though highs will recover a bit, into the lower 70s.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Cool and Damp

A change to sharply cooler weather! Locations north of I-20 will struggle to crack 60 degrees this afternoon due to the clouds and rain. Rain is less widespread over the southern half of Mississippi, but still expect occasional showers with highs in the low to middle 60s; with the exception of the southernmost counties where temperatures will run near 70.

The cool, unsettled weather continues Wednesday, then dry and very pleasant Thursday. Rain returns Friday into early Saturday ahead of yet another front that will reinforce this delightful, fall air for the weekend. 

Michael Haynes

Turning Sharply Cooler

Some major weather changes ahead... A cold front is moving across the state today. You'll begin to feel the cooler air later this afternoon and evening as temperatures dip into the 60s; and won't budge much during the day Tuesday and Wednesday due to clouds and periods of rain. Dry and slightly warmer Thursday, followed by a brief warmup Friday in advance of yet another front. Unfortunately, rain and storms are a possibility for the high school football games. Rain decreases Saturday as another shot of cool, pleasant fall air arrives for the weekend.

Michael Haynes

Warm Sunday

A mix of sun and clouds today; also much warmer with highs in the upper 80s to near 90. A brief shower is possible, but most spots remain dry. A cold front arrives Monday, bringing sharply cooler air. Temperatures hold in the 60s Tuesday and Wednesday; in fact, areas north of I-20 will struggle to get out of the 50s all day Tuesday. Behind the front, our pattern remains unsettled, causing periods of showers through midweek.

Michael Haynes

Fall Finally Arrives In Mississippi

THURSDAY: Behind our sweeping cold front, expect skies to become sunny to mostly sunny as highs only manage the 70s to near 80°. Winds may a bit aggressive at times, out of the north at 10-20 mph. Overnight, as winds subside, under clear skies – we’ll see lows fall back deep into the 50s. Some cooler pockets could drop into the upper 40s briefly by Friday morning.  
 
HURRICANE MICHAEL: This fast-moving storm will continue to move through Georgia and South Carolina into Thursday morning; North Carolina by Thursday night and off the Carolina coast by early Friday morning as a strong cold front sweeps it east. Heavy rain, wind and isolated tornadoes will be possible – minor surge can’t be ruled out along the beaches of these states too. 
 
EXTENDED RANGE: High pressure will hold firm to round out the work week and head into the beginning of the weekend. Expect highs in the 70s, trending toward the lower 80s by Sunday ahead of our next system due in by late Sunday into Monday.  Rain chances will be elevated to start our next work week – even through Tuesday before gradually clearing into Wednesday. Expect another reassuring shot of autumn air with highs mainly in the lower 70s, except Tuesday, where we’ll dip into the upper 60s.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Michael to Make Landfall in FL; Cold Front to Cross MS

WEDNESDAY: A cold front will be approaching from the west – meanwhile, Hurricane Michael will be approaching the central Florida panhandle through the day. In between, our weather will be more influenced by the front than anything else. Expect partly sunny to variably cloudy skies – highs will push into the middle to upper 80s with a few widely spaced storms at times. Rain chances will diminish as the front pushes through. Temperatures will fall off into the upper 50s and lower 60s by morning.  
 
HURRICANE MICHAEL: Michael will likely make landfall by Wednesday afternoon along the Florida panhandle, between Destin and Apalachicola as a category 3 or 4 storm. Life-threatening surge, wind and flooding are possible as the storm moves ashore. This will be a fast-moving storm, moving through Georgia and South Carolina into Thursday morning; North Carolina by Thursday night and off the Carolina coast by early Friday morning as a strong cold front sweeps it east.  
 
THURSDAY: At home, expect skies to become sunny to mostly sunny Thursday afternoon as highs only manage the 70s to near 80°. Winds may a bit aggressive at times, out of the north at 10-20 mph. Overnight, as winds subside, under clear skies – we’ll see lows fall back deep into the 50s. Some cooler pockets could drop into the upper 40s briefly by Friday morning.  
 
EXTENDED RANGE: High pressure will hold firm to round out the work week and head into the beginning of the weekend. Expect highs in the 70s, trending toward the lower 80s by Sunday ahead of a quick moving system due in by late Sunday into Monday. This will bring up rain chances and another reassuring shot of cooler, autumn air by early next week.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Michael Strengthens; Front Approaches

TUESDAY: A quiet start to your day but expect Tuesday to be a transition day of sorts. This is as we get an influx of tropical moisture into the region ahead of a front due into the area Wednesday. Many hours will be dry – but a few downpours can’t be ruled out. Expect partly turning mostly cloudy skies with highs topping out mainly in the middle 80s.  

WEDNESDAY: A cold front will be approaching from the west – meanwhile, Hurricane Michael will be approaching the central Florida panhandle through the day. In between, our weather will be more influenced by the front than anything else. Expect partly sunny to variably cloudy skies – highs will push into the middle 80s with scattered storms at times. Rain chances will diminish as the front pushes through.  
 
EXTENDED RANGE: Michael’s eastward deflection toward the east will bode well for our forecast – eventually ushering in cooler, drier Fall air to central Mississippi. Thursday will feature clearing skies with highs in the upper 70s; lows will dip into the 50s by early Friday. Expect mostly to partly sunny skies Friday and Saturday amid highs in the middle to upper 70s. A quick moving system Sunday and Monday will spark a few more clouds and a few showers too – keeping highs in the lower to middle 70s into early next week. 
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Warm Columbus Day; Eyes On The Tropics

MONDAY: While some have a long weekend, for those heading back into work – expect more of the same with highs topping out in the upper 80s to lower 90s through the afternoon hours. A few pop-up storms can’t be ruled out, though many will remain dry amid a mostly to partly sunny sky. We’ll remain quiet overnight with lows in the upper 60s and lower 70s.  
 
TUESDAY: A transition day of sorts as we get an influx of tropical moisture into the region. Many hours will be dry – but a few downpours can’t be ruled out. Expect partly turning mostly cloudy skies with highs topping out mainy in the middle 80s.  
 
EXTENDED RANGE: Expect a bit of a squeeze play between an approaching cold front from the west and Michael approaching moving closer to the northern Gulf Coast. Michael will likely be deflected east as long as the front moves into the region by Wednesday. At this point, that looks to be a good bet – taking most of the impacts from the storm east of the region. For us, we’ll be more influenced by the front – bringing a chance for showers and storms, then turning drier and cooler by the end of the week. Highs will drop from the 80s into the 70s; overnight in the 50s by Thursday, continuing through the weekend.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Tropical Update

We are tracking Tropical Depression 14 located just off the Yucatan Peninsula in the Western Caribbean; it will likely becoming a tropical storm later today or tonight as it heads north into the Gulf of Mexico. The current forecast keeps the center east of Mississippi, making landfall sometime Wednesday or early Thursday between Mobile and Panama City most likely as a tropical storm. Keep in mind, the exact track, timing, and intensity could change so check back for updates! 

In the mean time hot weather continues through midweek, then finally a significant cool down by the second of of this week as cold front sweeps through. In fact, we're forecasting highs in the 70s by this weekend. Finally, Fall is just around the corner so hang tight just a little longer!

Michael Haynes