textproduct: Jackson

KEY MESSAGES

- Several nights in the upcoming week will see widespread temperatures below freezing.

- Chances for light rain will return to the forecast area on Wednesday.

MESOSCALE UPDATE

Issued at 611 PM CST Sat Jan 17 2026

Tonight...

Evening surface analysis indicate 1031mb surface high situated over KS into northern OK. Longwave trough axis and strong spoke of energy are swinging into the Red River Valley to west TX, with increasing positive vorticity advection (PVA), helping the trough axis to propagate eastward across the Gulf Coast region by daybreak Sunday. This broad ascent and jet dynamics is leading to widespread high clouds, but any lower level moist advection and convergence for light showers or any flurries will remain southward over the northern Gulf Coast and to our southeast. As the surface high sags southward into TX, northerly surface winds become light and variable. Combined with clearing cloudiness, radiational cooling will support seasonably cold subfreezing lows (19F to 29F). With some low-level humidity, frost is possible overnight as well. Updates are out. /DC/

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1207 PM CST Sat Jan 17 2026

A longwave trough occupies and will continue to dominate the synoptic weather pattern across virtually all of the CONUS through the end of this week. A sequence of shortwave troughs will steer reinforcing rounds of colder surface air south and east into the central CONUS and Gulf Coast. Several nights will see widespread temperatures below freezing, and the coldest night might be Monday night as a broad 1030+ mb surface high overspreads our region. Moist return flow will warm things a little on the back side of this high, but surface based instability will still be held to the south. Light rain from upper-level forcing and ascent is possible Wednesday into Thursday before the trough axis moves east and flow across the CONUS becomes more zonal heading into the weekend. The shift in pattern will allow for some additional rain chances next weekend, though details in the pattern at that time frame are uncertain. /NF/

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 611 PM CST Sat Jan 17 2026

Other than high clouds in the 7-10kft range, VFR flight categories will prevail the next 24 hours. Northerly winds (sustained around 10mph; gusts of 15 to 10mph) will lighten around midnight and then shift westerly into Sunday afternoon. /DC/

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Jackson 24 44 28 51 / 0 0 0 0 Meridian 24 44 26 52 / 0 0 0 0 Vicksburg 24 44 28 51 / 0 0 0 0 Hattiesburg 28 49 28 58 / 10 0 0 0 Natchez 24 47 30 55 / 0 0 0 0 Greenville 23 42 27 44 / 0 0 0 0 Greenwood 20 41 26 46 / 0 0 0 0

JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MS...None. LA...None. AR...None.