MS News Now, First Alert Weather Blog

Soupy Thursday; Colder Days Ahead

THURSDAY: After a round of showers and storms overnight, we’ll keep warm temperatures through your Thursday. Highs will be in the upper 60s and lower 70s amid mostly cloudy skies. A few showers will be possible through the day. Overnight, a few showers will stay in the offing as lows drop to the 50s.  
 
FRIDAY: The stalled front to the north of the area will waver a bit farther south for Friday; splitting the region with highs in the 50s and 60s north; in the 60s and 70s south of the front. Expect mostly cloudy skies with a chance for a few showers to return by the afternoon; shower and storm chances increase overnight with lows in the 50s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Our stationary front will push back northward through Saturday, keeping highs warm, likely in the 70s. A strong cold front will push through the day Sunday, pushing temperatures back into the upper 40s and lower 50s by Monday. Drier air will begin to filter in behind the front, bringing quieter weather and much colder air through the majority of next week. Highs will be nearly 20° below average through Wednesday.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Sun, Clouds Wednesday; Rain Chance Return Late

WEDNESDAY: A few showers, storms possible at times for Wednesday but expect the majority of the day to be dry. Expect highs to top out in the lower to middle 70s. Rain chances look to increase late today and into the overnight period. We’ll remain mild overnight with a scattered showers and storms as lows drop to the middle to upper 50s.  
 
THURSDAY: Warm temperatures will continue through Thursday with scattered showers and storms at times – expect mostly cloudy skies as highs push into the upper 60s and lower 70s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Several waves will push across the region through the latter half of the week, bringing more waves of showers and storms to the area. Highs will remain warm, likely in the upper 60s and lower 70s through much of the week. A cold front will push through the day Sunday, pushing temperatures back into the upper 40s and lower 50s by Monday. Drier air will begin to filter in behind the front, bringing quieter weather and colder air through the majority of next week.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Unsettled Weather Pattern Ahead

TUESDAY: Clouds will begin to stream back into the region as a weak disturbance moves across the northern Gulf – that will also bring a chance for showers back into the fold too. Expect highs to stay in the lower to middle 60s. Overnight, a few scattered showers and storms may get into the mix as lows drop to the lower to middle 50s. 
 
WEDNESDAY: Clouds, showers and storms will be possible at times for Wednesday, though the entire day won’t be a complete washout. Expect highs to top out in the upper 60s and lower 70s. A gusty storm with hail can’t be ruled out, especially early for our southern communities. We’ll remain mild overnight with a few scattered showers and storms as lows drop to the middle to upper 50s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Several waves will push across the region through the latter half of the week, bringing more waves of showers and storms to the area. Highs will remain warm, likely in the upper 60s and lower 70s through much of the week. A cold front will push through the day Saturday, pushing temperatures back into the upper 40s and lower 50s by Sunday and Monday. The front will stall nearby, keeping the chance for showers in play through early next week.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Quiet Monday; Unsettled Days To Return

MONDAY: A quiet start to the work week across central Mississippi; expect sunshine to give way to a few more clouds through the afternoon hours. Highs will top out in the upper 50s and lower 60s; just below seasonable normal for many. Another highlight – we’ll stay dry through the day and night as lows drop into the lower to middle 40s. 
 
TUESDAY: Clouds will begin to stream back into the region as a weak disturbance moves across the northern Gulf – that will also bring a chance for showers back into the fold too. Expect highs to stay in the upper 50s and lower 60s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Several waves will push across the region through the latter half of the week, bringing more waves of showers and storms to the area. Highs will remain warm, likely in the upper 60s and lower 70s through much of the week. A cold front will push through the day Saturday, ushering in cooler and drier weather by Sunday. Highs will ease back into the 50s Sunday to round out the first weekend in March.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Storms Ending; Clearing and Cooler

Storms are moving out this evening, but not before a likely tornado touched down in Columbus; extensive damage is reported as we'll continue to monitor the situation and pass on the latest information. For Central and South Mississippi, the tornado watch is being cancelled. Still a few showers and storms will continue into the evening, but the severe threat is winding down. Clearing and cooler tonight into Sunday; morning lows dip into the 40s with afternoon highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. 

The week begins dry and pleasant, followed by increasing rain chances late Tuesday into Wednesday.

Michael Haynes

Strong to Severe Storms Today

An Alert Day has been issued for this afternoon due to the potential for severe storms. A line of thunderstorms will push across the state, featuring storms capable of producing damaging straight line wind, large hail, flash flooding, and tornadoes. For Central and South Mississippi, the main time frame is from 2pm to 9pm, but it will not storm that entire time; counties in West Mississippi will be impacted earlier in the afternoon, and East Mississippi toward the later end of the time frame. Make sure you have our First Alert Weather App downloaded and ready to go.

Michael Haynes

Storm Threat Increases Saturday; Few Could Be Strong

FRIDAY: A warm front will continue to press northward through the day – temperatures will start in many locations, in the 60s, working into the middle to upper 70s by the afternoon hours. Scattered showers and storms will develop; a few of the storms could be strong during the afternoon hours. We’ll remain warm through Friday night – in the middle to upper 60s.  
 
SATURDAY: Expect a warm and windy day to take shape ahead of a threat for strong to severe storms across the region. Morning activities may have to dodge a few rain drops – but more so, the strong southerly winds will be the highest impact early. By the afternoon, showers and storms will begin to break out along and ahead of the front, temperatures will make a run for the 70s to near 80°. All modes of severe weather; wind, hail and isolated tornadoes, can’t be ruled out. The main time frame looks to be between 2 PM and 9 PM Saturday. Storms will subside, we’ll trend drier by midnight as lows drop into the 40s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: High pressure will nose in to round out the weekend – expect highs in the lower to middle 60s for Sunday amid partly cloudy skies; a few more clouds sneak for Monday, though we stay dry. Expect showers to pick up late Tuesday, more so into Wednesday as another system moves through. 
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Rainy Periods, Storms At Times Through Saturday

THURSDAY: The same front that brought showers and storms to the region Wednesday will stall and backtrack northward through Thursday. This will bring more rounds of rain to the region through the day. Highs will range from the lower to middle 50s in our far northern area to the middle 60s for our far southern areas.  
 
FRIDAY: A warm front will continue to press northward through the day – temperatures will start in many locations, in the 60s, working into the middle to upper 70s by the afternoon hours. Scattered showers and storms will develop; a few of the storms could be strong during the afternoon hours. We’ll remain warm through Friday night – in the middle to upper 60s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: The upcoming weekend will be split, 50/50; expect a potent storm system to push across the region through Saturday. Winds turn southerly at 15 – 25 mph, pushing in the warmth and moisture. Storm will begin to erupt through the afternoon hours, a few of the storms could be strong to severe. Strong wind, hail and isolated tornado threat exist. The storms will subside through Saturday night – we'll trend drier Sunday and Monday before more rain moves in by late Tuesday into Wednesday.   
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Stormy Start to Wednesday; More Rain Ahead

WEDNESDAY: Expect an active morning commute heading to work and school – a cold front will sweep through, bringing along with it a chance for a few strong storms. The severe threat should shift east of the area by mid-day. Heavy rain, gusty wind and isolated spin-up tornado can’t be ruled out. Early highs will in the 60s to near 70°, dropping later in the day to the 50s. Rain will taper, leaving the afternoon/evening commute drier; expect variably cloudy skies overnight with lows in the upper 40s and lower 50s. 
 
THURSDAY: The same front that brought showers and storms to the region Wednesday will stall and backtrack northward through Thursday. This will bring more rounds of rain to the region through the day. Highs will range from the lower to middle 50s in our far northern area to the middle 60s for our far southern areas.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Rain will be common place across the board over the next several days – expect heavy rain that could total from 2-4”, with locally higher amounts. Temperatures rebound to the 70s by Friday and Saturday amid a scattering of showers and storms. By late Saturday, a line of storms could develop, bringing a chance of strong to severe storms to the region. We’ll trend drier for Sunday before more rain moves in early next week.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Chilly, Rainy Tuesday; Storms Possible Wednesday

TUESDAY: Grab the umbrellas and keep them handy over the next few days. Tuesday starts several days of rounds of rain moving across the region. The stalled front will begin to retreat north as a warm front late today, into tonight. Most of the day will likely be stuck in the 40s and 50s with occasional rain chances. Overnight, the warm front lifts north – pushing temperatures into the 60s to near 70 for some. A few strong storms may break out near the cold front as it sweeps east. 
 
WEDNESDAY: Expect an active morning commute heading to work and school – a cold front will sweep through, bringing along with it a chance for a few strong storms. The severe threat should shift east of the area by mid-day. Heavy rain, gusty wind and isolated spin-up tornado can’t be ruled out. Early highs will in the 60s to near 70°, dropping later in the day to the 50s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Rain will be common place across the board over the next several days – expect heavy rain that could total from 2-4” for area south of I-20; to 3-6”+ north of I-20. Temperatures will ease back to the upper 50s and lower 60s Thursday – eventually rebounding to the 70s by Friday and Saturday. By late Saturday, a line of storms could develop, bringing a chance of strong to severe storms to the region. We’ll trend drier for Sunday before more rain moves in early next week.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist  
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx