MS News Now, First Alert Weather Blog

Strong Storms; Turning Cold

Alert Days for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning due to threat of severe storms and cold.... 

A tornado watch has been issued until 1pm. Storms continue to move across the state this morning. Heavy rain, gusty wind, and hail are the primary threats, but we can't completely rule out the potential for a few brief spinup tornadoes. The severe threat shifts into East Mississippi by lunch time, then turning sharply colder. Falling into the upper 20s and low 30s tonight; and yes, a few snow light flurries are possible but no big deal in terms of accumulation. 

For Sunday, clearing and cold with highs in the 40s along with an icy north wind. A hard freeze Monday morning as temperatures plummet to the low and middle 30s. A quick warmup as the week begins, but more cold air is on the way by next weekend. Stick with us throughout the morning for the latest on our severe weather threat.

Michael Haynes

Foggy Friday Morning; Storms, Cold By Weekend

FRIDAY: Add a few extra minutes to your morning commute as fog will be possible to start off the day. Expect mostly to variably cloudy skies with highs in the middle 60s. Overnight, clouds will thicken again as rain chances approach the region after midnight.  
 
SATURDAY: Saturday begins a series of alert days due to two types of adverse weather moving into the region. A few strong to severe storms early Saturday as the cold front approaches the area. The main time of the storms will be between 4 AM – 10 AM Saturday. The main threat being strong winds, but an isolated tornado can’t be ruled out. Behind the front, temperatures will quickly drop off Saturday afternoon and night. A few flurries will be possible Saturday night and early Sunday morning as temperatures dip into the 30s amid wind chills in the 20s.  
 
SUNDAY: Clouds will be in place amid the cold air Sunday morning – eventually sunshine will return as temperatures attempt to work their way into the upper 30s and lower 40s. Most of the day, wind chills will be stuck in the 20s. Overnight, under clear skies, temperatures will drop into the middle 20s – wind chills will fall to the upper 10s. Take the necessary precautions of protecting your pipes and plants and making sure people with inadequate access to heat and pets are warm.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: After a cold start – the remainder of your Monday looks great. Sunshine will push temperatures in the 20s to near 50° by the afternoon hours. Clouds will gather late Monday, leading up to rain chances returning by Tuesday and another chilly blast moving by mid-late week. 
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Showers Thursday, Storms, Cold by the Weekend

THURSDAY: Clouds will thicken amid the chance for scattered showers through the day. Though it won’t be a washout, you’ll still want to grab an umbrella heading out the door. Expect highs in the 60s ahead of a weak front moving into the region. Clouds will hold into the overnight hours – though the rain will come to an end as lows only fall to the upper 40s and lower 50s.  
 
FRIDAY: Add a few extra minutes to your morning commute as fog will be possible to start off the day. Expect mostly to variably cloudy skies with highs in the middle 60s. Overnight, clouds will thicken again as rain chances approach the region after midnight.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: The next big weather maker will move in through Saturday. Expect showers and storms to becoming likely with highs in the 60s. A few strong storms amid heavy downpours can't be ruled out. Timing for the heaviest activity looks to be between 8 AM and 1 PM. Much colder air will rush in quickly behind the rain. Other than that, expect the coldest air we’ve seen this season with highs in the 30s Sunday, into the lower to middle 20s Monday morning, rebounding to near 50° amid sunshine. Another rain maker moves into the region by Tuesday and Wednesday with another push of cooler air moving into the region. 

Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Sun, Clouds Wednesday; Storms, Cold Loom Ahead

WEDNESDAY: Expect a mix of sun and clouds for the mid-portion of the work week – highs will work their way into the upper 50s and lower 60s through the afternoon hours. Clouds will thicken overnight ahead of our next weather maker, due into the area Thursday. Lows will fall into the middle to upper 40s.  
 
THURSDAY: Clouds will thicken amid the chance for scattered showers through the day. Though it won’t be a washout, you’ll still want to grab an umbrella heading out the door. Expect highs in the 60s ahead of a weak front moving into the region. Clouds will hold into the overnight hours – though the rain will come to an end as lows only fall to the upper 40s and lower 50s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Expect a lull for Friday as will try for the upper 60s to near 70°. The next big weather maker will move in sometime Saturday. Expect showers and storms to becoming likely with highs in the 60s. A few strong storms amid heavy downpours can't be ruled out. Timing for the heaviest activity looks to be between 11 AM and 7 PM Saturday. Severe weather threat is low, but not negligible. Much colder air will rush in quickly behind the rain, possibly meeting up with some lingering moisture for a few flurries early Sunday morning. Other than that, expect the coldest air we’ve seen this season with highs in the 30s Sunday, into the lower to middle 20s Monday morning. Expect a slow warming trend through the mid-parts of next week.   
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Clouds, Few Sun Breaks Tuesday; Big Changes Ahead

TUESDAY: Yet another cold start as you are heading out the door amid more clouds in the 30s – through the day, clouds will break for a few more peeks of sun for the afternoon hours as temperatures work their way into the upper 40s and lower 50s. Overnight, a few clouds sneak back in with lows in the middle to upper 30s. 
 
WEDNESDAY: Expect a mix of sun and clouds for the mid-portion of the work week – highs will work their way into the upper 50s and lower 60s through the afternoon hours. Clouds will thicken overnight ahead of our next weather maker, due into the area Thursday. 
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Our first system of the week will push through Thursday, bringing a scattering of showers and storms to the area. Highs will still manage the middle 60s. Expect a lull for Friday as will try for the upper 60s to near 70°. The next big weather maker will move in sometime Saturday. Expect showers and storms to becoming likely with highs in the 60s. A few strong storms amid heavy downpours can't be ruled out. Much colder air will rush in quickly behind the rain, possibly meeting up with some lingering moisture for a few flurries early Sunday morning. Other than that, expect the coldest air we’ve seen this season with highs in the 30s Sunday, near 20° Monday morning.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Clouds Break Monday, Gradual Warming Trend Ahead

MONDAY: The remnants of our weekend system will hang around in the form of clouds for some of us through the start of the new work week. Clouds may break for areas south of I-20 before the day is out – more spots will stay clouded over with highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Overnight, skies clear as lows drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s.  
 
TUESDAY: After a cold start, expect a near seasonable finish with highs in the lower to middle 50s amid mostly sunny skies, thanks to high pressure moving over the region. A few more clouds may sneak into the area late in the day, but we’ll remain dry during the day and overnight period.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: As the week wears on, our next weather maker will begin to take shape. Wednesday should remain quiet with a mix of sun and clouds, highs will push their way into the lower 60s. Clouds will thicken a bit with the chance for a few scattered showers and storms Thursday. Highs will still manage the middle 60s. Expect a lull for Friday as will try for the upper 60 and lower 70s. The next big weather maker will move in sometime Saturday. Timing will be critical in determining temperatures for the day – if the system delays until later, highs could be in the 60s and 70s; if the system moves in early, highs could struggle to hit the 50s. At any rate, Sunday looks to feature the coldest temperatures so far this season. We’ll be watching the evolution over the next week and keep you updated.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx 

Cloudy and Cool

Cloudy and cool this morning with temperatures in the 40s with patchy areas of fog. Light drizzle is possible, but overall dry throughout the day. Due to the clouds and colder air blowing in from the north, highs hold in the 40s along with a chilly north breeze. The work week begins dry and cool followed by a warming trend through Friday. Colder air is expected to arrive next weekend.

Michael Haynes

Soggy Saturday

A wet start to the weekend. Rain is moving into the state this morning and will become widespread through lunch time. Expect up to one half inch on average with the possibility for locally higher amounts. The main area of rain shifts into Alabama this afternoon, although remnant showers will continue. Otherwise cloudy with highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s. For Sunday, mostly cloudy and cold as temperatures struggle to crack 50 degrees.

Michael Haynes

Seasonable Friday; Rain Returns Friday

FRIDAY: Another chilly morning with temperatures in the 30s – expect highs in the lower to middle 50s as clouds begin to increase through the latter parts of the day. A shower or two can’t be ruled out by the end of the day either.  
 
WEEKEND PLANNER: Our next weather maker rolls into the region through Saturday, bringing clouds, mild, moist breezes off the Gulf. Temperatures Saturday will range from the 50s near and north of I-20 to the 60s south of I-20. Expect up to 1” of rain as this system rolls east. The majority of the rain should come to an end by early Sunday morning that will feature more clouds and chilly northerly breezes. Expect highs in the 40s to near 50° Sunday.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Clouds will stick around for much of Monday as highs struggle to make their way to near 50° through the afternoon hours. Sunshine returns by Tuesday as highs get back to their January normals – in the middle to upper 50s. Highs in the lower 60s return by the middle and latter half of the week, though rain chances may start roll in by the end of the week.   
 
RIVER FLOODING: The river flooding across the region is coming to a head – but the rivers will remain swollen through the week ahead. The Pearl at Jackson has crested – slowly falling by late week. Downstream, the Pearl is cresting at Rockport and Monticello – both areas will also stay elevated through the week, with a slow fall beginning by the weekend. The Big Black River at Bentonia has crested with a slow fall to begin by the weekend; farther downstream at Bovina, the river will fall below flood stage by Monday of next week. Along the Mississippi River; levels will continue to rise at Vicksburg, going to into the minor flood stage – topping out near 44’ on the 17th; getting closer to the moderate stage at Natchez as it approaches 51’ by the 18th.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx 

Sunshine Thursday; Rain Rolls In Saturday

THURSDAY: A chilly start to your Quiet weather will prevail Thursday amid mostly to partly sunny skies. Highs will stay chilly, in the upper 40s and lower 50s through the afternoon period ahead of our next weather maker. A few clouds expected overnight as lows drop into the lower to middle 30s.  
 
FRIDAY: Another chilly morning with temperatures in the 30s – expect highs in the lower to middle 50s as clouds begin to increase through the latter parts of the day. A shower or two can’t be ruled out by the end of the day either.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST:  Periods of chilly showers rolling to the region by Saturday amid breezy southerly winds. Highs Saturday will manage the lower to middle 50s as moisture and slightly milder air moves in off the Gulf of Mexico. Clouds will remain into Sunday as we struggle to approach the 50° mark. By next week, we’ll see sunshine returning; in the upper 40s to near 50° Monday, middle 50s by Tuesday.  
 
RIVER FLOODING: The river flooding across the region is coming to a head – but the rivers will remain swollen through the week ahead. The Pearl at Jackson has crested – slowly falling by late week. Downstream, the Pearl is cresting at Rockport and Monticello – both areas will also stay elevated through the week, with a slow fall beginning by the weekend. The Big Black River at Bentonia has crested with a slow fall to begin by the weekend; farther downstream at Bovina, the river will begin a slow fall over the coming days after cresting Wednesday. Along the Mississippi River; levels will continue to rise at Vicksburg, going to into the minor flood stage – topping out near 44’ on the 17th; getting closer to the moderate stage at Natchez as it approaches 51’ by the 18th.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx