textproduct: Jackson

KEY MESSAGES

- Dangerously cold temperatures are likely areawide Friday night through Sunday. - A few light showers/flurries will be possible late Thursday and then again late Friday night into Saturday morning.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 247 AM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

Today: Compared to the past few days, this afternoon will feel noticeably warmer (though still quite chilly), as highs rise into the 40s and 50s across the area. High pressure remains in control and mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected. Winds will generally be light and northwesterly. /86/

The previous forecast below remains on track and was largely unchanged. While likely not impactful, however, the chances of flurries or perhaps a dusting of snow in a couple of spots seems to have increased this forecast cycle (6Z NAM, for example) for the late Friday night/Saturday morning time frame as some guidance suggests an embedded jet max could be more compact and slower to eject through the long wave trough. Were this to happen, there may be a brief opportunity to squeeze out a smattering of precipitation across the area mostly prior to mid morning. Given the possibly favorable pre-dawn time frame some of this precipitation may be able to reach the ground as brief snow flurries. This possibility is not currently advertised in the gridded forecast due to the very light nature of any possible precipitation as well as low confidence in its occurrence. This possibility will be closely monitored as sensitivity to even a small amount of frozen precipitation will likely continue to be heightened over the next week as storm recovery is ongoing.

In terms of the cold that follows, guidance remains in good agreement and dangerous cold is likely. The explicit gridded/deterministic forecast suggests an upgrade to "Significant" (Level 3) may be necessary on our cold weather graphical products across the northern tier of counties but only marginally so. If confidence continues to be high that these lower temperatures (<15F) or wind chills (<0F) are likely, that upgrade could come as soon as later today. Given likely ongoing power outages from our recent storm, this cold event could be of greater impact than might otherwise be typical. /86/

Previous Discussion:

Wednesday night through early next week...

The cold pattern will persist through the remainder of the period amid broad troughing over eastern CONUS. Just about every night this week will be subfreezing for much of the area. a series of reinforcing waves/cold fronts will lock in cold air over the region. While, these waves will largely be dry, a wave Friday has the the potential to eke out some moisture. Surface temperatures will be warm enough in the south to support rain, however it may be cold enough for snow in the north. Soundings are supportive of a rain/snow profile with cold air aloft. This should limit freezing rain potential. That said, cannot rule out brief freezing drizzle in areas with sufficient boundary layer moisture and dry DGZ. As the profile cools, flurries or light snow showers will be possible. These are not expected to be impactful.

A rapidly deepening surface low off the coast of the Carolina's will work to tighten the pressure gradient over the area and will bring brisk NNW winds around the backside in advance of a strong surface high. This raises great concern for dangerously cold wind chills, generally around -5 - +10 degrees. High confidence has prompted the introduction of an elevated graphic early to start messaging this. Will continue to monitor trends for wind gusts and a significant could be introduced and an extreme cold warning will likely be needed, possibly areawide. The coldest wind chill values are expected Friday night into Saturday as wind gusts peak around 25mph. Pressure gradient relaxes with the surface high Saturday night, limiting wind chill. Actual low temperatures will likely be in the teens areawide Saturday night into Sunday morning with pockets of single digits in the north. Lows this weekend have the potential to break several records.

Early next week, a shortwave and associated surface low will turn winds back out of the south and will help to moderate temperatures to near normal. This will also bring a possibility of light rain showers by Wednesday./SAS/

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 600 AM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

VFR conditions and winds generally from a westerly direction are expected to prevail at the TAF sites through the period. /86/

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Jackson 48 25 53 35 / 0 0 0 10 Meridian 50 24 53 32 / 0 0 0 10 Vicksburg 46 26 53 33 / 0 0 0 10 Hattiesburg 54 28 58 37 / 0 0 0 10 Natchez 49 27 55 35 / 0 0 0 0 Greenville 41 26 47 30 / 0 0 0 10 Greenwood 44 23 50 30 / 0 0 0 10

JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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