Category: forecast discussion
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Another Arctic cold front moves through the Mid-South overnight, dropping temperatures as precipitation moves out behind a low pressure system moving through the southeastern states. This is a familiar pattern for meteorologists. The timing of the arrival of cold air and departure of deepest available moisture always creates an interesting scenario for wintry precipitation in…
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A surprise snow to start the season Weather and traffic folks had their hands full early this morning when “surprise” snow showers passed over the metro around dawn. I quote “surprise” because there were clues last evening that some precipitation could occur this morning. In fact, I updated the official MWN Forecast shortly after 10pm…
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As you’ve no doubt heard, the first major Arctic outbreak of the “winter” is closing in on the Mid-South (and please don’t call it the polar vortex or I’ll have to sic Guido on you!). Enjoy the next 36 hours or so because we won’t see temperatures this warm again for some time. Model data…
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If you don’t like cool weather, I recommend you stop reading now. OK maybe not, but this post is going to be all about below normal temperatures, so put on your gloves and earmuffs and continue on, intrepid readers! What’s average? We’ll start with where we’re supposed to be, because sometimes that gets lost in…
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As promised, a big time chill is on deck, and is slated to move in behind tonight’s cold front. The only good news is that it won’t last long, but the magnitude of the cold will be quite a shock after a couple of 70 degree days and last weekend’s 80s. We’ll first feel the…
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Autumn weather can be fickle and this week is proving to be exhibit A, at least in the temperature department. This past weekend, Mid-South air conditioners cranked back up as highs reach the 80s with more humidity than we have been accustomed to the past couple of weeks. For the first weekend of November though,…
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A rather cool afternoon is underway with temps in the mid to lower 60’s as a partial solar eclipse will hopefully be visible in the Mid-South. The only issue at this time is some high clouds over the area, but these are showing some signs of breaking up and we’re hoping we’ll be lucky enough…
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UPDATE — 9:00am Monday As suspected last evening, the Mid-South has been upgraded to a Moderate Risk for severe storms today. Probability of damaging wind within 25 miles of your location is now at 45% with a 10% chance of wind over 75 mph. The tornado risk is also at 10%. Current SPC severe weather…
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A gorgeous, if breezy, weekend is in the books with warming temperatures and increasing rain chances this week. The main discussion point is the potential for severe storms on Monday. Clouds increase overnight as southwesterly wind continues to bring in additional moisture. Lows will be much warmer than the 40s of the past couple of…
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UPDATED 7:00pm: A Tornado Watch has been posted for much of the metro, as well as a good part of AR, until 2am (see map below). We’ve been asked “why a tornado watch? I thought this was a straight-line wind threat?” Two reasons: The same watch box covers areas to our west in AR where…
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We’ve had a few tastes of fall in the past month, but between those, warm days have left many of you wondering “when is fall here to stay?” We’ll have another shot at it with a large-scale cold front that will move quickly through the region Thursday night. Prior to then, the Mid-South will be…
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The MWN Lightning Round is back with three topics for this fabulous fall Friday! 1. First, and most important, the weekend forecast! Lots of activities again going on around town this weekend as fall gets into full swing. The weather will cooperate for most of them, but it will be warm with slightly increased humidity…
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After a weekend that felt like late summer to many, with highs near 90 and humidity a bit above the “comfortable” level, we’re basking the wake of a fall cold front today! High temps are remaining in the 70s and dewpoints are hovering around 50 on a north breeze, leading to a very comfortable afternoon.…
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I promised that summer was over with our last big cold front. I still maintain that, though it’ll get within a few degrees of my “summer threshold” this weekend ahead of another cold front that moves through Sunday! There are a lot of outdoor activities this weekend, including the Memphis Tigers football game Saturday evening…
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Despite a very late start, summer did end up rearing its ugly 3-H head (hazy, hot, and humid) the past few weeks. Though there were a few brief respites in August, the end of last week into the first half of the weekend did me in. I am over the heat and especially the humidity.…
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Surface Analysis Chart valid Thursday at 1 PM from the Weather Prediction Center Above is today’s surface analysis from the Weather Prediction Center. It’s not a surprise that there’s plenty of warm temperatures across the southern U.S., but the past couple of days we have been enjoying a bit lower humidity at the surface courtesy…
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A massive upper-level high pressure ridge has receded a bit, but hot and dry weather continues until tropical moisture arrives, just in time for the holiday weekend! Abnormally dry weather over the past month has resulted in very dry vegetation and soil. A strong upper-level ridge that was in place over the weekend combined with…
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A very cool July has spilled over into August with the first half of the month averaging 1.9 degrees below normal. This past week especially was very pleasant with below normal temps and humidity, resulting in weather that felt more like mid-September. However, the upper level trough over the eastern U.S. that was present this…
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We were quite spoiled for most of July as Memphis experienced its sixth coolest July on record, but the start of August is bringing more typical summer heat that looks to stick around for a while. As we head into tomorrow, humidity will begin to rise. With temps reaching the mid 90s, heat index values…
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The well below normal temperatures we’ve experienced for much of the month has resulted in this weekend’s “normal” July weather feeling rather uncomfortable. Seems to be pretty easy to acclimate to cooler weather and take for granted the lack of 90 degree days. Then when a couple of days, such as this weekend, send the…
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