Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1155 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Dangerously cold temperatures are likely areawide Friday night
through Sunday.
- Gusty gradient winds are expected Saturday.
- Colder than normal temperatures will continue into next week.
&&
.MESOSCALE UPDATE...
Issued at 650 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026
A weak low surface pressure system sliding southeast from OK/AR
toward the Gulf Coast tonight will bring a shift to northwesterly
winds and low cloud cover overnight. Models still hint at a few
flurries or sprinkles if lift could maximize with the system, but
nothing measurable or impactful is expected. /NF/
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 143 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026
Tonight through Wednesday night:
Tonight through Friday:
Longwave trough over the eastern CONUS will push a cold front
towards the area tonight. Increasing cloud cover with light winds
expected for the overnight hours as the next cold front moves into
the area. The aforementioned front is expected to be dry with low (>
15% PoPs) rain chances however, a few rain showers/flurries may be
possible with any available moisture. No impacts are expected if
flurries are present. Patchy fog/freezing fog can`t be ruled out
early Friday morning. A potent cold front will drop an arctic
airmass into the region on Friday, significantly dropping high/low
temperatures for the weekend. Will be upgrading Extreme Cold Watch
to an Extreme Cold Warning for Friday night into Saturday morning
with this update.
Saturday-Sunday:
Post-frontal passage, cold temperatures and breezy winds are
expected Saturday as a surface high progress into the region. Highs
are only expected to reach near freezing in the Pine Belt, elsewhere
highs will be in the upper 20s to near 30 degrees. Along with
dangerously cold temperatures, winds are expected to be strong
throughout Saturday with sustained winds ranging between 20-25 mph
and gusts between 35-40 mph. Strong winds will result in wind chills
below zero degrees to single digits, increasing cold weather danger
along with impacting ongoing restoration efforts from the previous
winter storm. For any areas with continued icy/slick roadways and
extended power outages, ensure to know your safety precautions with
generators and keep warm the best you can this weekend. Will be
adding an areawide Cold Weather Advisory for Saturday night into
Sunday to account for lighter winds and remaining cold temperatures.
Winds will begin decreasing overnight Saturday into Sunday and
temperatures won`t be as cold as the previous day with highs
reaching the upper 30s to lower 40s on Sunday. Overnight lows for
Sunday will range in the 20s.
Monday-Wednesday night:
Surface high will gradually slide to the east, allowing for
southerly/southeasterly flow to return to start the week.
Temperatures will remain below seasonal averages and ranging from
the upper 40s in the north to near 60 degrees in the south by mid-
week. A shortwave disturbance will begin pushing towards the
southeast CONUS, bringing widespread rain chances (50-60% PoPs) to
the region Wednesday and beyond extended period. /SW/
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1155 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026
VFR ceilings will prevail across all TAF sites to start off the
period. Multiple TAF sites will continue to see VFR conditions
through 11Z Friday. After 11Z Friday, conditions will begin to drop
to MVFR status across multiple sites thanks to low cloud cover as a
weak sfc low slides southeast from OK/AR towards the Gulf Coast
tonight. Gusty northwesterly winds will prevail across the area
through the end of the period. Models still hint at a few flurries
or sprinkles if lift could maximize with the system, but nothing
measurable or impactful is expected. MVFR ceilings will prevail
across multiple TAF sites through 18Z Friday. /CR/
