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Sunshine and 70s Thursday, but a frosty weekend is possible on the Mississippi Coast

If you’ve been looking for a chance to get outside, this afternoon looks hard to top before things turn chillier. A few morning clouds will give way to more sunshine today as a cold front moves through. The air will feel drier, and a breeze may pick up, but temperatures should still reach the mild 70s this afternoon. It’s a great chance for a walk, a trip to the park or a little yardwork before chillier air settles in. The UV index is moderate, but you can still get a sunburn, so keep sunscreen handy if you’ll be outside for a while. COOLER FRIDAY... Today’s mild air won’t stick around for long. By tomorrow morning, temperatures will drop into the chilly 40s. A light breeze could make it feel closer to 40 degrees, with wind chills in the upper 30s in a few isolated spots. A sweater will be handy for tomorrow morning’s commute or school drop-off. Tomorrow afternoon will stay below 70 degrees across the area, though a few spots near Gulfport and Biloxi could come close. FROST POSSIBLE SATURDAY MORNING... The chill gets a little more noticeable Friday night into Saturday morning when much of South Mississippi will drop into the 30s. Frost is possible, especially where temperatures reach the mid-30s or colder. If you have cold-sensitive plants, keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to cover them or bring them inside Friday night. Frost isn’t a guarantee everywhere, but it’s worth planning ahead. Saturday afternoon won’t offer much of a warm-up in some spots, with temperatures struggling to get above 60 degrees. In other words, the weekend will feel a whole lot more like December than November. BOTTOM LINE... Enjoy Thursday’s sunshine and mild temperatures, then get ready for a cooler Friday and the possibility of frost Saturday morning. Stay with the WLOX First Alert Weather team for updates.

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Extended Dry Stretch Settles Across South Mississippi; Chilly Weekend Ahead

After morning lows dipped to 50s and 60s, temperatures rebounded quickly into the upper 70s by midday, heading toward an afternoon high near 80 degrees. With the region sitting on the drier western side of the stalled boundary, rain chances remain near zero through the weekend. DROUGHT CONDITIONS IMPROVE IN PEARL RIVER COUNTY... Thursday morning’s updated U.S. Drought Monitor showed localized relief across portions of Pearl River County, particularly around Poplarville, where more than 15 inches of rain fell over Halloween weekend. Because drought map guidelines limit adjustments to one category change per week, a Level 1 drought designation remains in place despite their torrential totals. Drought levels across the rest of the viewing area held steady. Wednesday provided the only recent measurable rainfall for parts of the area, including roughly an inch near Perkinston in Stone County, though coastal communities like Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula stayed largely dry. COOLER WEEKEND AIR MASS ON TRACK... While today and tomorrow will both peak near 80 degrees, a secondary push of cooler air arrives in time for the weekend. Highs Saturday and Sunday will struggle to escape the lower 70s. A high of 70 on Sunday means most daylight hours will hover in the cool 60s. Sunday morning will be particularly crisp, with coastal lows dipping to 47 degrees and inland communities north of Interstate 10, including Wiggins and Poplarville, waking up to the lower 40s.

Pearl River County, MS · 7d

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Front Brings Scattered Showers Before Crisp Fall Air Settles In

Those hitting the road early Wednesday morning may notice some thick fog hanging over Coastal Mississippi. Once that fog clears out through mid-morning, our attention turns west toward an approaching cold front that will shake up our weather pattern over the next few days. Here is the good news right off the top: you do not need to cancel your outdoor plans Wednesday. While we are tracking scattered showers moving across South Mississippi ahead of the front, this is not an all-day washout. WHAT TO EXPECT WEDNESDAY... Coverage will be scattered, meaning some neighborhoods will catch a passing downpour while others stay completely dry. You might hear a rumble of thunder or encounter brief heavy rain, but any severe storm threat—damaging wind gusts over 60 mph, large hail, or tornadoes—will stay well north of our viewing area. Keep an umbrella in the car just in case, but don’t hesitate to take a walk or run midday errands between rain bands. It will still feel warm and humid before the boundary crosses the coast. Any rainfall we do manage to pick up is certainly welcome. A burn ban remains in effect for Harrison County, where grounds are still exceptionally parched. There is a bit of relief to report to our north, though: officials canceled Stone County’s burn ban thanks to helpful weekend rainfall. THE BOTTOM LINE: A REFRESHING FINISH TO THE WEEK... Once a cold front slides east of us tonight, the humidity begins to gradually drop. Thursday and Friday bring somewhat of a less humid feel. By Saturday and Sunday, crisp conditions await: chilly, jacket-worthy mornings dipping into the 40s followed by pleasant afternoons in the lower 70s. It will be prime weather for weekend festivals or just leaving the windows open.

Mississippi · 8d