MS News Now, First Alert Weather Blog

ALERT DAY: Rain, Wind Impacts Increase Later Friday Into Saturday

FRIDAY: An ALERT DAY as impacts from Delta will begin to become more noticeable by the latter part of the afternoon and evening hours as the storms continues to trek onshore after making landfall in southwest Louisiana. Highs will top out in the 80s. Bands of tropical rains, gusty breezes along with a severe weather risk will begin to move Friday evening and continue overnight as tropical storm conditions become more prevalent over the area. Power outages will be possible as winds remain elevated.  



 
DELTA’S IMPACTS: Locally, impacts from Delta will increase from southwest to northeast as the core circulation of the storm will pass nearby to the region. By the afternoon and evening hours, tropical rain bands will begin to lift northward over the area. Amid the tropical bands, expect heavy rain, gusty winds and the potential for a few spin-up tornadoes. Highest impacts will be for areas west of I-55 where rainfall totals could be between 2-6", farther east, 1-3" possible. Winds will also be strongest west of I-55, where 50-60 mph gusts will be possible at times. Farther east, 40-45 mph gusts are possible. 
 
WEEKEND PLANNER: Saturday’s ALERT DAY will be for the remnants of Delta continuing to pinwheel over the region bringing rain and wind over the region through the day. Winds will begin to subside late in the day as tropical showers begin to taper off slowly. Morning showers may linger Sunday before gradually clearing into the afternoon hours with highs in the 80s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: A front will slip through the region early in the week – ahead of it, highs will top out in the middle 80s Monday – behind the front, highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s return through mid-week. Another opportunity for scattered showers may emerge by the end of the week.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Delta Strengthens Ahead Friday Landfall; Local Impacts Expected Late Friday, Saturday

THURSDAY: Cloudy skies will continue ahead of rain chances increasing through the latter part of the day. Highs will top out in the lower to middle 80s. Rain will lift northward overnight before tapering off around sunrise – under mostly cloudy skies, lows will fall back into the upper 60s and lower 70s.


FRIDAY: An ALERT DAY as impacts from Delta will begin to become more noticeable by the latter part of the afternoon and evening hours as the storms continues to trek onshore after making landfall in southwest Louisiana. Highs will top out in the 70s and 80s. Bands of tropical rains, gusty breezes along with a severe weather risk will begin to move Friday evening and continue overnight as tropical storm conditions become more prevalent over the area. Power outages will be possible as winds remain elevated.

EXTENDED FORECAST: Rain, wind and severe weather impacts will continue for central and southwest Mississippi into Saturday, keeping an ALERT DAY status in place. Stay alert, vigilant and responsive to forecast changes ahead. Most indications show Delta moving away from the region by Sunday, though lingering moisture and an approaching storm system will keep opportunities for a few showers in the forecast through mid-next week.

Patrick Ellis

WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

ALERT DAYS Issued Friday, Saturday Ahead of Impacts from Delta

WEDNESDAY: High pressure over the region will keep the weather quiet for another day as the Mississippi State Fair kicks off this evening. Expect a lot of warm October sunshine through the day. Highs will top out in the middle to upper 80s, a bit above normal for this time of the year. We’ll stay quiet through the day - a few more clouds will stream through the skies overnight as lows drop into the middle 60s.  
 
THURSDAY: Clouds will continue to increase across the region as bands of clouds and a few showers sneak in through the afternoon hours. Highs will top out in the lower to middle 80s. Rain will taper overnight – under mostly cloudy skies, lows will fall back into the upper 60s and lower 70s.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Locally, our forecast will be highly dependent on the ultimate track of Hurricane Delta, which is expected to make a landfall along the northern Gulf Coast by Friday evening. Interest from deep east Texas to the Mississippi Gulf Coast should remain on alert and prepared. Farther inland, rain, wind and severe weather impacts are becoming more likely for central and southwest Mississippi by Friday into Saturday. Stay alert, vigilant and responsive to forecast changes ahead. Most indications show Delta moving away from the region by Sunday, though lingering moisture and an approaching storm system will keep opportunities for rain in the forecast through mid-next week.  
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Cooler Friday; Bright and Mild Weekend Ahead

FRIDAY: As the front pushes farther south, the cooler air will filter in its wake. Expect sunshine to win out the day again amid a cool northerly breeze. Highs will top out in the lower to middle 70s; dropping back into the middle and upper 40s by early Saturday morning.  


WEEKEND PLANNER: A chilly start to your Saturday with temperatures in the middle and upper 40s; sunshine will prevail again with highs in rebounding into the lower to middle 70s. Another front will move through late Sunday, bringing a few clouds and possibility of a stray shower north of I-20. Many will remain quiet, dry and bright as temperatures warm up into the 70s to near 80.  
 
EXTENDED FORECAST: Behind the third front in a week moves into the region late Sunday into Monday, it'll push temperatures down a few notches Monday, rebounding quickly by Tuesday into Wednesday with sunshine and highs returning to the lower 80s. 
 
TROPICS: A tropical depression or tropical storm could be in the makings in the western Caribbean. Hurricane hunters are scheduled to fly into the system later today. Stalled fronts and high pressure will keep this storm and the disturbance behind it away from the northern Gulf Coast. The stalled front will act as a conveyor belt for clouds and rain to stream northeastward into Florida through the next few days. If the system does garner a name, it’s name would be “Gamma”. 
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx

Week's Second Front On Final Approach to Mississippi

THURSDAY: Yet another day of sunshine and seasonable temperatures – as highs get into the upper 70s and lower 80s ahead of our next cold front slips into the region. Winds will kick up through the day with northerly gusts of 15-25 mph possible. The front will move through Thursday afternoon and evening, ushering in another cool down to head into the end of the work week. Expect lows to dip into the lower 50s under mainly clear skies.  

FRIDAY: As the front pushes farther south, the cooler air will filter in its wake. Expect sunshine to win out the day again amid a cool northerly breeze. Highs will top out in the upper 60s and lower 70s; dropping back into the middle and upper 40s by early Saturday morning.  


EXTENDED FORECAST: The weekend will feature more sunshine as temperatures gradually moderate through the 70s both Saturday and Sunday. Another front is poised to move into the region late Sunday into Monday. This could spark a few showers as the front moves through. In the front’s wake – it'll push temperatures down a few notches Monday, rebounding quickly by Tuesday into Wednesday. 
 
Patrick Ellis 
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx