MS News Now, First Alert Weather Blog

Quiet End To 2019; Rainy Beginning To 2020

NEW YEARS EVE: High pressure will continue to hold firm over the area through the last 24 hours of 2019. Expect mostly sunny skies amid seasonable temperatures in the middle to upper 50s. A few clouds may stream in by the stroke of midnight – but no rain will accompany the clouds. Temperatures will be in the upper 30s at midnight, dropping into the lower to middle 30s by daybreak.  


NEW YEARS DAY: As we start off the new year and new decade, expect clouds to thicken through the day as temperatures stay seasonable for this time of the year – making their way into the middle to upper 50s once again.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: A fast moving sub-tropical jet will help bring a swath of rain into the region through Thursday – at times, being heavy. 2-4" is possible – bringing up thoughts of localized flooding concerns. Most of the rain will exit by Friday morning, but expect it to turn breezy and chilly. Highs Thursday and Friday will be in the 60s; 50s return by Saturday. We’ll stay quiet through the weekend ahead of another disturbance moving in by early next week.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Seasonable Sunshine Monday

MONDAY: On the heels of another storm system, the weather turns quiet to head into the last few days of 2019. Sunshine will get temperatures to near normal through the day, in the middle to upper 50s. Overnight, we’ll remain clear as lows drop into the middle 30s.  

 
NEW YEARS EVE, DAY: Tuesday will feature a few passing clouds, but other than that, we’ll remain quiet if you must get on the roads to get to your New Years Eve destinations. Highs will be in the middle to upper 50s. Clouds may thicken overnight ahead of the stroke of midnight, but we’ll remain dry amid lows in the 30s by early Wednesday morning. Wednesday will have more clouds in the skies, yet stay dry early – turning wet overnight with highs in the 50s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: A fast moving sub-tropical jet will help bring a swath of rain into the region through Thursday – at times, being heavy. 1-3" is possible – bringing up thoughts of localized flooding concerns. Most of the rain will exit by Friday morning, but expect it to turn breezy and chilly. Highs Thursday and Friday will be in the 60s; 50s return by Saturday. We’ll stay quiet through the weekend ahead of another disturbance moving in by Monday.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Storms Sunday; Cooler Next Week

The warming trend continues as highs reach the low to middle 70s this afternoon. Spotty showers will continue at times throughout the day, but not a washout. Rain and storms will become widespread Sunday morning into the afternoon as a cold front arrives. There is a lower end threat for severe weather, including the possibility for damaging wind, heavy downpours, and a few brief spinup tornadoes. Even though, widespread severe weather is not expected, please stay weather aware in the event that a severe storm does develop near your location. Turning seasonably chilly next week, including New Year’s. Highs dip into the 50s for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Michael Haynes

Warm, Quiet Thursday; Storms Return This Weekend

THURSDAY: A patch or two of fog may greet you out the door early Thursday. Post-Christmas blues will be accompanied by clouds and a few peeks of sun here or there. Temperatures will continue to run above average – from the 50s early to near 70° by the afternoon hours. A shower or two is possible overnight with lows dropping into the 50s. 


FRIDAY: A weak disturbance will help to kick off a few scattered showers through the day Friday – but we don’t anticipate a complete washout. Temperatures will come up from the morning 50s back to the upper 60s by the afternoon hours.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Heading into the weekend, another system will approach the region from the west by late Saturday into Sunday – this will likely bring a round of storms to the area. A few of the storms could be gusty as the line moves through. Rain showers will generally be slow to exit Sunday afternoon as cooler air filters in. Highs Saturday will be well into the 70s; 50s and 60s Sunday and back to seasonable 50s to round out 2019.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx 

Warm Christmas Day

CHRISTMAS DAY: Expect a mix of sun and clouds as temperatures climb from near 50° early to the upper 60s and lower 70s by afternoon. Clouds will continue to thicken into Wednesday night as lows fall to the lower to middle 50s.  
 
THURSDAY: Post-Christmas blues will be accompanied by clouds thickening through the day. Temperatures will continue to run above average – from the 50s early to near 70° by the afternoon hours.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: A weak disturbance will sneak into the area by the latter half of Friday. This will bring rain chance up a tick along with a surge of Gulf moisture. Highs Friday will still top out in the upper 60s. Another system will approach the region from the west by late Saturday into Sunday – this could bring a round of showers and storms. Timing and impact differences are still something we are honing in on – but behind that system, temperatures will take a dive into the last few days of 2019.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Warm Christmas Eve, Day

CHRISTMAS EVE: A few patchy areas of fog will be possible to start the day; other than that, a mostly to partly sunny sky with highs pushing their way from the morning 40s to the 60s to near 70. Santa should have no issues, if he arrives on time around 10-11 PM – though patchy fog may be possible again by early Christmas morning as lows drop to the upper 40s and lower 50s.

CHRISTMAS DAY: Zones of fog will be possible again to kick off Christmas Day – a mix of sun and clouds will get us through the day with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s.

EXTENDED FORECAST: Clouds will become more prevalent in the skies to round out the latter part of the work week. Expect highs to remain warm, in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Rain chances will return through the upcoming weekend. There is still plenty of variability on timing and impacts from this system; so we’ll continue to watch it closely as this could be either a quick moving system – or yet another lumbering low that may linger into early next week. At any rate, we are looking to turn seasonable and dry in time for the start of 2020.

Patrick Ellis

WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

 

Rainy Spells This Weekend

FRIDAY: Sunshine will greet you out the door to start the day but will likely fade behind the clouds as our next weather maker begins to spill over out of the Gulf of Mexico as we approach the weekend. Expect highs to sneak into the upper 50s amid the mix of sun and clouds, but we’ll remain dry to round out the work week. Clouds thicken overnight as lows drop to the upper 30s and lower 40s.  


WEEKEND PLANNER: A Gulf-borne rain maker will spread clouds and rain into central Mississippi by Saturday and continue through Sunday. Rainfall amounts will run from near 0.25” through the Lower Delta to a little over an inch possible in the Pine Belt. Occasional gusty breezes may swing through as the area of low pressure strengthens to our south. No severe weather is expected; rain will gradually taper through Sunday night. Highs Saturday and Sunday will be in the lower to middle 50s 
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: High pressure will move into the region and hold firm through majority of Christmas week in central Mississippi. Expect sunshine and highs in the lower 60s Monday; middle and upper 60s Christmas Eve and nearing 70° Christmas Day. Outside of a few clouds Wednesday and Thursday, the weather looks to stay quiet until next weekend.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Quiet, Cool Thursday; Rain Returns This Weekend

THURSDAY: Cold and frosty start to your day – but mid-December sunshine will help to get temperatures back into the lower to middle 50s, which is closer to normal. Another night under mostly to partly clear skies will allow for lows to drop into 30s.  
 

FRIDAY: Sunshine will greet you out the door to start the day but will likely fade behind the clouds as our next weather maker begins to spill over out of the Gulf of Mexico as we approach the weekend. Expect highs to sneak into the upper 50s amid the mix of sun and clouds, but we’ll remain dry to round out the work week. Clouds thicken overnight as lows drop to the upper 30s and lower 40s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Our Gulf-borne system will spread scattered showers into the region into the weekend amid highs in the 50s. Given the track of the system and its speed, it could amount to pockets of heavy rain in parts of the state. The storm will exit off toward the east to begin the new week off. Sunshine looks to return into Christmas week, leading up to milder 60s by Christmas Eve and Day.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Chilly, Sunny Wednesday

WEDNESDAY: A much quieter and brighter day expected across central Mississippi – expect mostly sunny skies amid a chilly start to the day. Early morning 20s and 30s will give way to afternoon 40s and 50s. Northerly breezes will not be as intense as Tuesday. Skies will remain clear, winds will go flat calm, allowing for lows to drop deep into the middle 20s by early Thursday.  

THURSDAY: Cold and frosty start to your day – but mid-December sunshine will help to get temperatures back into the middle and upper 50s, which is near normal. Another night under clear skies will allow for lows to drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Heading toward the weekend, expect a mix of clouds and sun to round out the week ahead of a system attempting to get its act together in the Gulf of Mexico. This may spread a few showers into the region into the weekend amid highs in the 50s. Sunshine looks to return into Christmas week, leading up to milder 60s by Christmas Eve and Day.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx 

Severe Storms Possible Monday

Once again, we’re starting out with areas of dense fog this morning, so please take it easy if you’re out early. Highs rebound to the upper 60s and even lower 70s by afternoon. Otherwise dry followed by a round of rain and storms Monday and as strong storm system pushes across the state. Severe weather is an increasing concern, although there are limiting factors that will come into play. That said, we will maintain the possibility for damaging wind, large hail, and a few tornadoes Monday afternoon into the evening. Check back for updates and make sure you have our First Alert Weather App in order to receive the latest forecast and alerts. 

 

Michael Haynes