Severe Storms, Tornado Threat for Mississippi Friday; Freeze Expected Next Week

Mississippi is bracing for severe weather this week, including a threat of tornadoes and significant temperature drops. As the polar air mass descends from Canada, many areas are expected to experience their first hard freeze of the season.

Severe Storms and Tornado Threat

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a severe weather warning for parts of North and Northeast Mississippi. The threat is expected to arise on Friday afternoon and extend into the evening.

• Locations at risk include Southaven down to the Interstate 20 corridor east of Jackson.
• A Level 1 risk indicates potential for damaging winds and hail, along with the possibility of tornadoes.

Severe storms may produce wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail. In the extreme northeast corner, there is a Level 2 risk, signifying a heightened likelihood of severe weather conditions.

Upcoming Cold Snap

As the storm system departs, a drastic temperature drop is forecasted. By Monday night into Tuesday, Mississippi could see lows dipping to freezing.

• Jackson: Expected low of 30 degrees
• Southaven: 30 degrees
• Corinth: 27 degrees
• Columbus: 27 degrees
• Starkville: 27 degrees
• Greenville: 29 degrees
• Meridian: 28 degrees
• Natchez: 31 degrees

Although temperatures are forecasted to drop significantly, they are unlikely to reach record lows. The historical low for Nov. 11 in Jackson is 25 degrees, but experts caution the conditions will still be severe enough to damage unprotected vegetation.

Weather Outlook

The forecast shows a mix of winter weather and severe storms leading into next week:

Residents are advised to prepare for these weather changes, particularly in areas prone to severe thunderstorms and potential tornado activity. Monitoring updates from the National Weather Service will ensure safety during these unpredictable conditions.