textproduct: Jackson

KEY MESSAGES

- Significant threat for fire danger conditions continue through the weekend. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for Friday.

- A significant dry cold front will bring gusty northwest winds, worsened fire danger and wildfire concerns to the area tomorrow.

- Very little, if any, rainfall is expected through next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 138 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

Through Tonight:

Dry weather and seasonably warm temperatures will persist. There remains efficient afternoon mixing/low humidity into critical levels (25 to 35 percent range) for continued Elevated fire danger through early evening. High pressure remains in control and afternoon highs today are topping out in the upper 80s F to lower 90s F before dropping into the lower 60s F tonight. /DC/86/

Friday through midweek:

A Fall, dry cold front will move across the area tomorrow. An upper low currently over the Rockies will phase with deepening trough axis/upper jet diving into central Canada and southeast into the northern Plains to Mid MS Valley. This will help an amplified meridional and positively tilted trough. Stout, dry cold front will drive dewpoints falling into the mid to upper 30s (36-45 F). Cannot rule out a rogue shower but overall majority areas will remain dry. Cool down remains likely this weekend. Highs will be seasonably warm Friday (72-78 F in the northwestern half of the area, 79-91 F in the southeastern half), before falling dramatically overnight with most locations falling into the 40s F north of highway 84 and to near 50 F along and south of that corridor. With continued drought stressed vegetation, this strong gusty front will likely increase fire danger concerns. The cold front will move into the Delta around daybreak Friday, Interstate 20 around midday and out of the area by early evening. 1030-1040 mb surface high building will build east out of the lee side of the Rockies through the Mid West, leading to 6-8 mb pressure gradient and resultant gusty gradient wind of 20-25 mph sustained and wind gusts reaching 30-35 mph at times. Elevated Fire Weather conditions will persist through the weekend, peeking into Significant ranges Friday when a Red Flag warning will be in effect. A Fire Weather Watch was also issued for Saturday as gusts and low humidity will remain. As the trough digs across the Eastern Seaboard and cuts off the Atlantic seaboard, ridge over the western Gulf will amplify, with the axis over the ArkLaTex. Seasonable, cooler fall temperatures will build areawide into Saturday and Sunday (highs lower 70s F Saturday and through the 70s F Sunday. Lows dip into middle 40s F north of Interstate 20 and upper 40s F to the south). Quiet and dry weather will persist next week, with an Omega block pattern developing (trough over the Baja California and southwest US and another just off the Carolina coast). Low level return flow and deep dry moisture profiles will lead to moderating temperatures (low 80s F early week to mid to upper 80s F by late week) and lows becoming more seasonable. With continued drought, stressed vegetation and afternoon humidity nearing critical levels by mid week (25 to 35 percent), fire danger will likely persist. Additional fire weather graphics will likely be necessary as we approach next week. /DC/86/

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 642 PM CDT Thu Oct 15 2026

VFR conditions will prevail for the most part. The exception will be with IFR/LIFR fog potential mainly in the lwoer Pine Belt region. A strong cold front will push southward through the entire area Friday, reaching the HBG/PIB area by around 20-21Z. Wind following the frontal passage will pick up quickly and become gusty from the NNW, SHRA activity is not expected. /EC/

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Jackson 63 81 50 71 / 0 0 0 0 Meridian 61 85 48 69 / 0 0 0 0 Vicksburg 62 78 49 71 / 0 0 0 0 Hattiesburg 61 90 51 73 / 0 0 0 0 Natchez 64 80 50 71 / 0 0 0 0 Greenville 65 70 48 69 / 0 0 0 0 Greenwood 63 73 48 70 / 0 0 0 0

JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MS...Red Flag Warning from 9 AM to 8 PM CDT Friday for MSZ018-019- 025>066-072>074.

Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through Saturday evening for MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074.

LA...Red Flag Warning from 9 AM to 8 PM CDT Friday for LAZ007>009-015- 016-023>026.

Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through Saturday evening for LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026.

AR...Red Flag Warning from 9 AM to 8 PM CDT Friday for ARZ074-075.

Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through Saturday evening for ARZ074-075.