Icy Mess Continues Today But Sunny Conditions This Weekend

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Today's forecast:
Jackson, MS-------High 38 Low 28

Starkville, MS-----High 38 Low 25

Meridian, MS------High 40 Low 27

Vicksburg, MS-----High 36 Low 22

Greenwood, MS----High 38 Low 23

Tupelo, MS--------High 36 Low 25

Hattiesburg, MS---High 43 Low 31

Pascagoula, MS----High 47 Low 34




~Jackson, MS

Currently~as of 6:15a.m.
Winter weather has certainly made a definite impact upon Mississippi this winter season. As I advise on yesterday's forecast, roadways would be very slippery with ice on them and the result of it has been devastating. Around the Jackson area alone, clarionledger.com reports nearly 80 vehicles were involved in crashes yesterday with 20 people having to go to the local hospital. On a very sad note, two people lost their lives yesterday in crashes due to slippery roads. In Jackson, some roads have already seen up to an half an inch of ice along the ground. It makes perfect sense today that most schools have been closed down and even some local businesses. With conditions like these it is quite hazardous and frankly dangerous to be out traveling if not necessary. A Winter Storm Warning is still in effect until around 9am. Before that Warning is up, temperatures will still be below freezing.
Currently, it is still raining and I don't doubt in some area light freezing rain. We are in the upper 20s and we are going to warm up slightly today. This rain will make the roads very slippery especially with ice already on them. So, if you do not need to be out I urged you to wait until a better time and that time could come on Saturday.

What's Happening Atmospherically
A surface low pressure is still providing lots of moisture for the southeast region coming out of the south moving due northeast. This is in combination with a cut-off low or short wave(500mb)containing a shallow pocket of cold air. This cut-off low is the main reason for the freezing rain and ice in the area. I think another good point to make concerning why it has been so cold this winter is due to blocking in the Arctic oscillation. Basically what I mean is that blocking in the Arctic has allowed for colder than normal temperatures here in the South and we are now receiving mostly cold Arctic air from the north. When you combine this cold air with moisture, you'll going get mostly freezing precipitation in the forms of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

We will continue to see lasting precipitation throughout the afternoon as the surface low continues to move northeast. Acculumations of ice will still cover most of the MS region especially if the wet-bulb temperatures continue to stay below freezing. Now as temperatures warms up, we will mostly just have rain. It's hard to believe that our normal highs around this time of year are in upper 50s especially when when we have gone this entire week with highs struggling to get even into the 40s. After noon today we should start to see precipitation slack off a bit around the Jackson area as our surface low moves out. Lingering moisture will persist through the evening and we should be totally done with the rain by Saturday morning. After that a high pressure begins to move across the region with temperatures increasing just a bit on Saturday. Now by Saturday evening winds will shift from the northwest to the south. Although we won't hardly feel the effect of it Saturday night, Sunday we should experience this change with temperatures warming up to our normal around this time of year. It'll be great to have some warmer temperatures after having highs average around the mid 30s for this week. Models show precipitation entering back into the forecast Monday.

Weekend Forecast

Friday-
Today, we will still have persisting rain throughout the morning hours into the afternoon. As the afternoon progresses, rain should start to diminish some. You still will need to drive safely and cautiously throughout the day. Be careful driving over bridges and just really take your time wherever you go. Temperatures will be slightly warmer today reaching the upper 30s. The good thing is that we won't really have strong winds blowing today with winds from the northwest at 5mph. Gray and overcast conditions to consume the skies and this will last throughout overnight. By tonight, most of the rain will be out but there will be no escape from the cold temperatures as they drop back into the mid 20s. Northwest winds at 5mph.

Saturday-
A change in scenery as sunny conditions make its return. Temperatures will try to stay up for a bit warming up to the mid 40s. By the evening time, winds will shift from the north to the south. We will definitely feel the effect on Sunday but for Saturday night temperatures will once again plummet back into the 20s with mostly clear skies.

Sunday-

For Super Bowl Sunday, a little relief from the cold temperatures as highs rises to the mid 50s. A very brief break from the cold Arctic air we have gotten used to. A mostly clear day with south winds at 5 to 10 mph. Look for lows around the upper 20s.

Long-term

We could see our next chance of rain come next Monday, but I don't think we will see much from it as models depicts the cold front moving swiftly through. However, this cold front will once again filter cold air back into the southern region. Wednesday, we could have a chance for snow but it is hard to have an accurate assessment in determining it due to model disagreement with the timing of it. There do seem to be much agreement with even colder temperatures Thursday and Friday. Next Friday morning, we could wake up with temperatures or 10 DEGREES or BELOW! You definitely do not want to miss next week's weather blogs.

Again, drive safely today and be careful with your travels. Enjoy the Super Bowl on Sunday. I will be going for the Packers, so go Packs! I hope its a great game as I'm sure it will be. Thanks for viewing your Face of the Sky daily and weekend forecast. Hope you all have a great weekend and God bless!