NEW YEARS DAY: In our system's wake, winds will turn aggressively from the west/southwest, ushering cooler air over the region. Expect afternoon temperatures hovering in the 50s, nearing 60° for some with a mix of clouds and sun – feeling cooler amid the gusty breezes. Winds will fade after sunset with partly cloudy skies, dropping into the upper 30s and lower 40s.
WEEKEND PLANNER: Another batch of clouds will stream through the skies Saturday – turning the skies variably cloudy with highs in the lower 50s. A stray shower can’t be ruled out. Clouds will gradually clear Saturday night with lows falling into the lower to middle 30s. We’ll rebound to ‘near-normal’ temperatures for early January amid sunshine with highs in the middle to upper 50s.
LOOKING AHEAD: Heading back to work after the long holiday period will be easy with sunshine and mild temperatures invading the region to start off the week. Expect highs in the 60s Monday and Tuesday. We’ll be in the 60s again Wednesday, though clouds will increase as our next weather maker begins to move in, offering a chance for rain and storms Wednesday night into Thursday. The back half of the week will feature temperatures gradually falling back through the 50s as another rain maker gets ready to move in by the end of next weekend.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
January 01, 2021
December 31, 2020
ALERT DAY: Strong to Severe Storms Possible Rounding Out 2020
NEW YEARS EVE: An ALERT DAY has been hoisted for the potential for a few strong to severe storms through the afternoon and evening hours to round out the year 2020 and ring in 2021. Expect a warm, breezy day ahead of the storm risk that will begin to blossom with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Two rounds of storms will be possible – the first round could bring all modes of severe weather during the late afternoon hours with strong winds, hail and the potential for a few tornadoes; the second round will be more of a strong wind risk along a squall line, though a spin-up tornado can’t be ruled out. Severe storm risk should end around midnight with lows in the 50s.
NEW YEARS DAY and BEYOND: Starting off 2021 breaking up clouds with peeks of sunshine amid temperatures running in the 60s Friday. We’ll trend cooler into the 50s by the weekend amid a mix of sun and clouds. Milder air will invade next week as temperatures rebound into the 60s, leading up to our next weather maker due in by mid-late week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
December 15, 2020
Chilled Cloudiness Tuesday; Rain Return Tuesday Night
TUESDAY: After a chilly start to your day, temperatures will gradually rebound to the 40s to lower 50s by the afternoon amid clouds and a few peeks of sun. Our next system isn’t far off, expected to move through late Tuesday night into early Wednesday – featuring periodic showers as lows drop to the upper 30s and lower 40s.
WEDNESDAY: Rain will exit prior to sunrise for most – though clouds will likely hold firm over the region yet again through mid-week. A chilly northerly breeze will continue to flow into the area as highs struggle to get past the 40s for most locations. Skies will gradually clear overnight with lows falling back into the 20s to near 30.
EXTENDED PLANNER: Sunshine will tend to return Thursday as a slow warming trending will push temperatures into the upper 50s and lower 60s by week’s end amid mostly sunny skies. Rain returns Saturday as another system pushes through the area, gradually clearing Sunday. After a brief cool down, temperatures will warm into the 60s in the days leading up to Christmas ahead of a rain maker due in for Christmas Eve.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
December 14, 2020
Winter's Chill Returns This Week
MONDAY: Skies will remain cloudy to mostly cloudy through much of the day as colder air locks them. Drier air will filter in upstairs - helping to break them up by the afternoon hours. Temperatures will hold in the 40s with wind chills in the 30s. Winds will tend to fade tonight as skies continue to clear with lows in the upper 20s and lower 30s.
TUESDAY: After a cold start to your day, temperatures will gradually rebound to the 50s by the afternoon amid a mix of clouds and sun. Our next system isn’t far off, expected to move through late Tuesday night into early Wednesday – featuring periodic showers as lows drop to the 40s.
EXTENDED PLANNER: Rain will taper quickly Wednesday morning as skies gradually clear. Highs Wednesday will only manage the upper 40s and lower 50s. A slow warming trending will push temperatures into the upper 50s and lower 60s by week’s end amid mostly sunny skies. Rain returns late Friday night into Saturday as another system pushes through the area, gradually clearing Sunday.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
December 11, 2020
Bookend Weekend Rain Chances
NEAR TERM: Clouds will likely be here to stay through the rest of the day with a few breaks here and there of sunshine. Highs will top out in the upper 60s and lower 70s amid a south breeze picking up this afternoon. Rain will hold off until after sunset tonight - gradually increasing through the overnight hours. A gusty shower or storm can't be ruled out - through severe threat remains negligible. Most of the rain will be out of the area by mid-morning with increasing amounts of sun Saturday with highs in the 60s to near 70.
NEXT SYSTEM: Another area of low pressure will develop to our west - trekking eastward into Sunday. We'll likely start the day with sunshine, giving way to clouds through mid-day and rain emerging by sunset. Rain could be heavy at times Sunday night into early Monday morning. In the wake of that system - clouds will gradually clear Monday with highs only managing the lower 50s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Temperatures will run below average through much of the week ahead with highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s - generally. Another, mainly weak, system moves through late Tuesday and early Wednesday, offering a few showers and another cool down. Temperature will claw their way back to the lower 60s by next week.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
December 10, 2020
Warm, Quiet Thursday; Rain Returns Late Friday, Early Saturday
THURSDAY: Sunshine will continue to help push temperatures into the 60s and lower 70s this afternoon amid a light southerly breeze. A few clouds will sneak by early Friday amid a chance for more fog to develop as lows drop into the 40s.
FRIDAY: A transition day with clouds increasing ahead of our next rain maker expected to move into the region. A stray shower or two can’t be ruled out as a breezy south flow pushing moisture into the area ahead of a front that will bring showers and a few storms into the area late Friday night into early Saturday morning.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Most of the rain will exit by mid-day Saturday amid clouds exiting as well – briefly. A Gulf slider system could sling moisture back into the area amid a fast upper flow, facilitating another round of rain Sunday. Highs Saturday will top out in the 60s; 50s will be all we can muster Sunday with lows in the 30s. Skies will gradually clear into early next week before our next system approaches mid-week. Temperatures will generally run below average through much of the week ahead.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
December 09, 2020
Trending Milder Ahead Of Unsettled Weekend
WEDNESDAY: Temperatures will continue to climb through the 60s to near 70 by afternoon amid sunshine. Expect mostly clear skies again with lows to fall back into upper 30s and lower 40s by early Thursday.
THURSDAY: With high pressure settling east of the region – southerly flow amid the abundant sunshine with push temperatures quickly into the lower 70s by the afternoon after starting off in the 30s and 40s.
EXTENDED FORECAST: Clouds will gradually increase through Friday with another warm, somewhat breezy, day ahead of rain chances emerging late in the day, carrying over into Saturday. Rain will exit gradually Saturday amid clouds exiting as well – briefly. A Gulf slider system could sling moisture back into the area amid a fast upper flow, facilitating another round of rain Sunday. Highs Saturday will top out in the 60s; 50s will be all we can muster Sunday with lows in the 30s. Skies will gradually clear into early next week before our next system approaches mid-week. Temperatures will generally run below average through much of the week ahead.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
December 08, 2020
Gradually Milder Through Late Week
TUESDAY: Sunshine continue to push temperatures into the upper 50s and lower 60s through the afternoon hours as high pressure settles over the southeast. Lows will fall back into the 30s again to start Wednesday morning.
WEDNESDAY: Dress in layers as a chilly start will give way to a mild finish. Temperatures will come from humble beginnings in the 30s to the middle to upper 60s by afternoon amid sunshine.
EXTENDED FORECAST: High pressure will continue to hang firm over the southeast through mid-late week – edging farther east by Thursday, ushering in warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico. Thursday, highs will be running toward 70 degrees for some spots. Clouds will increase through Friday with another warm, somewhat breezy, day ahead of rain chances emerging late in the day, carrying over into Saturday. Rain will exit gradually Saturday for partly sunny skies Sunday with highs trending cooler; back into the 50s.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
December 07, 2020
Cool & Breezy Monday; Gradually Warmer This Week
MONDAY: Starting off the new work and school week – expect sunshine through the day amid a cool northerly breeze in the wake of our Sunday cloud and shower creator. Highs will top out in the lower to middle 50s generally. Breezes will relax overnight – amid clear skies, we’ll drop into the 30s; a few upper 20s possible north of Metro Jackson.
TUESDAY: After a chilly, frosty start, we’ll get temperatures into the upper 50s and lower 60s amid mainly sunny skies through the afternoon hours as high pressure settles over the southeast. Lows will fall back into the 30s again to start Wednesday morning.
EXTENDED FORECAST: High pressure will continue to hang firm over the southeast through mid-late week – edging farther east by Thursday, ushering in warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico. Highs Wednesday will be in lower to middle 60s; Thursday running toward 70 degrees for some spots. Clouds will increase through Friday with another warm, somewhat breezy, day ahead of rain chances emerging late in the day, carrying over into Saturday. Rain will exit gradually Saturday for partly sunny skies Sunday with highs trending cooler; back into the 50s.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx
December 04, 2020
Gradual Clearing Friday; Mainly Quiet, Dry Weekend Ahead
FRIDAY: Clouds will continue to break for peeks of sunshine during the afternoon hours. Expect temperatures to range from the upper 40s and lower 50s north; lower to middle 50s south amid a chilly northwest breeze. Skies will clear overnight with lows in the middle to upper 30s.
WEEKEND PLANNER: High pressure will be transient over the region through the weekend – bringing sunshine Saturday with highs getting into the 50s to near 60 after starting in the middle 30s. Our next system will push over the area Sunday – bringing more clouds into the skies with highs, generally, in the 50s. A stray shower can’t be ruled out, but most will remain dry.
EXTENDED FORECAST: An upper disturbance will help to usher in another reinforcing shot of cooler air in the region to start the work week off. Expect highs Monday and Tuesday in the lower 50s after starting off near freezing both mornings. Gradually, milder air will invade through late week with highs returning to the 60s ahead of our next weather maker – a rain maker due in by next weekend.
Patrick Ellis
WLBT/FOX 40 First Alert Meteorologist
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @PatrickEllisWx