REST OF FRIDAY: Winds are expected to pick up through the late morning and early afternoon hours across central Mississippi - generally westerly with gusts to 30-40 mph possible. Otherwise, sunny to partly sunny skies with highs in the 50s. Clouds that develop this afternoon will fade after sunset - along with the brisk breezes with lows in the 30s by early Saturday.
WEEKEND PLANNER: For the most part, things looks mostly quiet - sunshine with highs in the upper 40s and lower 50s for Saturday. Still expecting a bit of a breeze through the afternoon hours - gusting to 20-25 mph at times. Clouds will increase late Saturday night into Sunday morning ahead of a weak disturbance. Sunny breaks will be possible Sunday afternoon. A shower or two will be possible Sunday night into early Monday morning. MLK Day looks dry and quiet with seasonable temperatures.
LOOKING AHEAD: 60s emerge through mid-late next week along with a sluggish, sloppy rain maker that looks to begin spreading moisture into the region Wednesday-Friday with waves of rain (at times heavy). We'll have to keep an eye out for the river headwaters to see if flooding can be induced, especially for the South Delta and the Backwater - right now, all is well out there as levels remain normal - but could see some increases if this bout of heavy rain comes to fruition.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 15, 2021
January 14, 2021
Milder, Breezy Thursday; Cooler, Windy Friday
THURSDAY: Sunshine wins out through the majority of Thursday - amid gusty breezes picking up out of the southwest ahead of our next front due in this evening. A stray shower or two could pop up after sunset as the front moves through. Highs today will top out in the lower to middle 60s. Expect lows in the 30s by early Friday morning.
FRIDAY: In the wake of the front, expect a chilled northerly breeze to push temperatures back into the lower to middle 50s amid sunshine and high clouds mixing through the day. Chilly, dry air will allow for lows to drop into the lower 30s by early Saturday morning.
EXTENDED FORECAST: A weak and mainly dry front will knock temperatures back into the weekend with highs in the 40s and 50s Saturday amid mostly sunny skies. Another disturbance will move through Sunday, bringing partly cloudy skies – clearing out by Monday. Temperatures will return to the middle to upper 50s by Monday, 60s return mid-late week along with increasing rain chances.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 13, 2021
Wintry Mix Exiting; 50s Return This Afternoon
WEDNESDAY: Wintry weather continues to exit to the northeast this morning along with an upper disturbance. Expect a mix of clouds and sun for the rest of Wednesday with a few lingering showers through mid-day. Highs will top out in the upper 40s northeast to the lower & middle 50s. Overnight lows will drop into the 30s with mostly clear skies.
THURSDAY: Sunshine will win out after a chilly start Thursday to push our temperatures upward into the 50s to lower & middle 60s ahead of our next front due in late Thursday into early Friday. Breezes will pick up from the southwest during the afternoon ahead of the front. Lows will fall back into the middle to upper 30s amid a mix of clouds and stars.
EXTENDED FORECAST: A weak and mainly dry front will knock temperatures back into the weekend with highs in the 50s by Friday and into the weekend amid mostly sunny skies. Another disturbance will move through Sunday, bringing partly cloudy skies – clearing out by Monday. Temperatures will return to the middle to upper 50s with rain chances returning by mid-next week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 12, 2021
Sunshine Returns Tuesday
TUESDAY: Temperatures continue to creep upward as clouds are fading away as well this morning leading to a decent amount of sunshine through the day. Highs will top out in the middle to upper 40s, effectively melting whatever is left over in most locations today. Overnight, a weak disturbance will push over the region. There have been some indications that would suggest a few flurries or a snow shower early tomorrow morning - for the most part, this should come at no consequence.
WEDNESDAY: After a cold start deep in the 20s, expect a mix of clouds and sun to push highs back toward the lower to middle 50s by the afternoon hours. This as a weak disturbance makes a track over the area during the day. Skies will clear generally with lows dropping into lower to middle 30s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: A strong area of high pressure will settle over the center of the country – keeping the weather generally quiet through mid-late week, in the lower 60s by Thursday. A weak front will knock temperatures back into the weekend with highs in the 50s. Rain chances return Sunday into Monday of next week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 11, 2021
ALERT DAY: Wintry Weather Continues in Parts of Mississippi
ALERT DAY MONDAY: Our wintry system continues to lay down its hand over the region this morning – ranging from snow to a cold rain. Accumulations will continue for areas, generally north/west of Metro Jackson. Roads could be impacted, especially bridges and overpasses through the morning commute. Temperatures will try to claw their way back above freezing – in the middle & upper 30s. Wintry mix will taper after mid-day – though random flurries could still fly amid the clouds. Lows will drop into the 20s; lower to middle 20s in areas that have snow on the ground.
TUESDAY: Areas that saw snow & sleet accumulations could have icy spots on the roads, bridges and overpasses through the morning commute. Sunshine looks to return in the wake of the wintry system, pushing temperatures into the 40s to, for some, near 50. For the most part, this should melt much of what fell Sunday into Monday. Lows will fall back into the middle to upper 20s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: A strong area of high pressure will settle over the center of the country – keeping the weather generally quiet through mid-late week. Expect highs to gradually moderate into the 50s Wednesday; near 60 by Thursday. A weak front will knock temperatures back into the weekend with highs in the middle 50s. Rain chances return Sunday into Monday of next week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 08, 2021
Cloudy, Blustery Friday; Wintry Weather Potential Late Sunday, Monday
FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy and blustery for the remainder of the day - a few breaks in the clouds could manifest themselves. Expect highs in the 40s with a chilly northwest breeze. Clouds will gradually break overnight with lows in the upper 20s and lower 30s.
WEEKEND PLANNER: Saturday trends mostly to partly sunny amid chilly highs in the 40s to near 50; dropping to the 20s early Sunday. Clouds will gradually increase through Sunday, eventually leading up to our next weather maker that features the potential for wintry weather for parts of the region.
WINTRY SETUP: A wintry system still looks to make its make on central Mississippi heading into late Sunday into Monday. This is still a lot of fine tuning the forecast and watching some waffling back and forth - but the general set up looks to support a period of wet snow mixing with rain across the south Delta into the mid-state hills region that could lead to minor accumulations. Farther south, it looks to be more of a cold rain with some flakes/sleet mixed in. In the Metro - we could switch back and forth between rain/snow with some sleet mixing in. Temperatures in the atmosphere are trending more and more marginal which gives it the look that we could have some mixing that will affect overall totals. There are still a lot of moving parts – stay up to date and responsive to changes and potential impacts. Stay up to date and responsive to changes moving forward through the upcoming weekend.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 07, 2021
Blustery, Showery Thursday; Watching Next System
THURSDAY: Clouds will continue to hold over the region underneath the upper low swirling overhead. A chilly, blustery day with occasional showers accompanying the clouds with temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Clouds will hold overnight, though shower chances will tend to fade. Lows will fall to the upper 30s.
FRIDAY-SATURDAY: We'll probably remain cloudy with occasional drizzly spots for Friday with highs in the 40s. Clouds could break late in the day as drier air filters in from the north. Skies should turn mainly clear overnight with lows in the upper 20s and lower 30s. Saturday remains quiet with highs in the 40s with mostly sunny skies.
POSSIBLE WINTRY WEATHER: Our attention turns to late Sunday into Monday. As a whole Sunday should be quiet - but we'll be watching trends to our west on how this system will approach the area.
Three different scenarios could play out with the low pressure placement that could yield different results.
Given the current trends; we are teetering on the edge of scenario #2 and #3 with marginal temperatures to support the wintry weather potential. This could be a situation where we have a swath of wintry weather across part of the area, while the other zones could be with a cold rain. At any rate, the possibility of wintry weather continues to increase for late Sunday into Monday for parts of Mississippi.
In the system's wake, we'll gradually trend milder - back into the 50s by the mid-late week as we trend quiet and dry again.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 06, 2021
Rain, Chilly Air Returns Late Week
WEDNESDAY: Clouds will quickly increase through the day as temperatures claw their way into the upper 50s and lower 60s. Rain showers will tend to hold off, likely, until after sunset in most instances. Rain turns likely overnight with lows dropping to the 40s.
THURSDAY: Clouds will continue to hold over the region underneath the upper low swirling overhead. Expect a chilly, blustery day with occasional showers accompanying the clouds with temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Clouds will hold overnight, though shower chances will tend to fade. Lows will fall to the upper 30s.
EXTENDED PLANNER: Clouds will hang tough, likely, through Friday with highs in the chilly 40s. A few sunnier breaks emerge Saturday ahead of our next system looks to approach by late Sunday into Monday of next week that looks to bring a chance for a cold rain to the forecast, but indications have pointed toward a potential of wintry weather in parts of the southeast that will need to be watched over the next few days. In that system’s wake, a slow warming trend will take place through mid-week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 05, 2021
Quiet, Seasonable Tuesday; Rain Returns Mid-Week
TUESDAY: In the wake of our weak disturbance from yesterday, a push of cooler air will sneak into the fold – expect mostly sunny skies with highs rebounding into the upper 50s to lower 60s. We’ll drop to the middle to upper 30s to start off Wednesday as clouds gradually increase.
WEDNESDAY: Clouds will quickly increase through the day as temperatures claw their way into the upper 50s and lower 60s. Rain showers will tend to hold off, likely, until after sunset in most instances. Rain turns likely overnight with lows dropping to the 40s.
EXTENDED PLANNER: Most of the rain should exit by mid-day Thursday – but expect a cool down through late week with highs in the 40s and 50s, lows in the 30s. Clouds will hang tough, likely, through Friday. A few sunnier breaks emerge Saturday ahead of our next system looks to approach by late Sunday into Monday of next week that looks to bring a chance for a cold rain to the forecast, but indications have pointed toward a potential of wintry weather in parts of the southeast that will need to be watched over the next few days.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 04, 2021
Mild Monday; Rain Returns Mid-Week
MONDAY: Heading back to work after – for many – a long holiday period, should be quite easy, given our weather situation. A weak disturbance will track across the area through the day, bringing a wave of clouds over the region, masking the sunshine for a few hours. Clouds will tend to break up through the afternoon hours with highs climbing into the 60s. Skies will clear overnight with lows in the upper 30s and lower 40s. A few patchy fog zones may develop overnight.
TUESDAY: A push of cooler air will sneak into the fold – expect mostly sunny skies with highs rebounding into the upper 50s to lower 60s after starting the day off in the 30s.
EXTENDED PLANNER: Our next weather maker will begin to edge its way into the region through mid-week, bringing an opportunity for showers to return by late Wednesday into early Thursday. Most of the rain should exit by mid-day Thursday – but expect a cool down through late week with highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s. Our next system looks to approach by late Sunday into Monday of next week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx