Happy Friday folks! Expect mostly sunny skies today and primarily no rainfall with the exception of a few pop-up showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon and into the evening. Temperatures should peak in the lower 90s with dewpoints in the lower 70s, which should allow for the heat index to reach around 100F during the afternoon.
The main story today is the ridge of high pressure extending all the way from the Western Atlantic to Arizona as denoted by the yellow line. This orientation of the ridge over SE MS/SW AL has kept and will continue to keep the weather warmer and mostly dry for the next several days. If this ridge axis were placed a bit further south it would be a different story: cooler temperatures and heavy rainfall as parts of northern MS are experiencing.
The effects of this ridge are evident across parts of the South and Southeast when looking at the total expected rainfall over the next five days: drier conditions across parts of the South and Southeast, including SE MS/SW AL, while regions farther north will receive copious amounts of rainfall.
If you have weekend plans this Saturday, the odds are in your favor when it comes to evading precipitation; however, a stalled boundary will sit just to the north of the forecast region potentially causing some evening thunderstorms. These storms are expected to stay north of, or at least in the very northernmost region of the forecast area, but be prepared for a quick storm or two even if you are farther south. I say this because these boundaries/troughs can induce convection away from the boundary (called prefrontal convection), which will be possible because of the unstable air mass that will be in place over the forecast region.
Day to Day Forecast
Today
Mostly sunny with a 40-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Highs in the lower 90s. Heat Index values around 101F.
Tonight
Partly cloudy with a 30-percent chance for showers. Lows in the lower 70s.
Saturday
Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Highs in the lower 90s. Heat Index values around 103F.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Highs in the lower 90s. Heat Index values around 102F.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
Monday
Mostly sunny with a 30-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Highs in the mid 90s.
Monday Night
Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny with a 30-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Highs in the lower 90s.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny with a 40-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Highs in the lower 90s.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
Thursday
Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. Highs in the lower 90s.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s.
