Jackson reached its warmest day of the year so far on Monday, and the heat is not easing quietly. Today brings a typical summertime hit-or-miss storm pattern across Central Mississippi, with many areas staying dry for stretches before showers and thunderstorms become more widespread tonight.
Jackson International hit 89 degrees Monday, Hawkins Field reached 90 and Vicksburg climbed to 91, a run of early-season warmth that set the stage for another humid afternoon. Temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 80s and lower 90s today, with heat index values in the mid 90s as the air stays muggy ahead of the storms.
The broader setup is one of those June-like patterns that can look quiet for part of the day and then turn active fast. A few storms could become strong, especially across western areas, where gusty winds and small hail are possible. Widespread severe weather is not expected, but the fast-changing nature of the afternoon and evening forecast means the better-looking hours may not last long in one place.
Central Mississippi is not the only part of the state dealing with rain. South Mississippi and the Gulf Coast are headed into a wetter stretch that starts Friday with another round of showers and thunderstorms, especially during the morning and afternoon hours. Saturday and Sunday are expected to bring scattered to numerous showers and storms, and Memorial Day itself is also looking soggy at times. The active pattern there does not appear to move out quickly, with daily rain and storm chances expected to continue into the middle of next week.
Behind the front, the air should turn slightly cooler and less humid, with highs returning to the low and mid 80s. But before that happens, the next seven days could bring 2 to 5 inches of rain across much of the area. Periods of heavy rain may lead to localized flash flooding concerns in spots that get repeated rounds of storms, and that is the main issue forecasters will be watching as the week unfolds.
The upside to a pattern this wet is that repeated rain could help chip away at drought conditions across parts of the Southeast. For now, though, the practical question for people across Central Mississippi is simpler: plan for a dry window when you can, because the storms are likely to find the rest of the day and keep coming back through the week.
