A robust and quick moving storm system will track from the Red River Valley Friday night into the Midsouth by Saturday morning, bringing a cold front across the area early in the day. Showers will begin to increase Friday evening, with greater rain chances and a few storms possible overnight. With a potent low-level jet and strong deep layer shear traversing the region and weak instability developing ahead of the front, a few severe storms can`t be ruled out mainly just ahead of the front. Models have been trending faster with this system, and the limited window of severe weather threat is expected to close by the afternoon in most areas. Of course, the morning timing is not generally favorable for a significant uptick in instability.
One other hazard we will have to keep in mind is the gradient wind threat given forecast 925 MB winds in the 40-50 kt range with the surface low passing close to the area. Limited wrap around shower activity will linger into the afternoon and evening mainly across northern and eastern portions of Mississippi. It will turn sharply colder behind the front, and forecast thermal profiles suggest light rain could briefly mix with or change to light snow along the Hwy 82 corridor before ending Saturday night. However, no accumulations or travel issues are anticipated in our area. Most precipitation is expected to be gone before midnight.
The new week will get off to a blustery start. Though precip will be clear of the area, low clouds may linger into at least a portion of the daytime Sunday. After a breezy and cold morning with wind chills possibly in the 20s (teens possible in the Delta), temps aren`t expected to get out of the 30s in North MS. With winds dropping off during the evening if there is sufficient clearing we could see strong radiational cooling Sunday night/Monday morning with temps getting well into the 20s across most of the area. As surface flow quickly turns back around, conditions will begin to moderate again Monday. The break in the rain chances will be fleeting, however, as the pattern remains quite progressive.
Extended Weather Forecast for Hattiesburg Mississippi:
