An Unsettled Final Week of February

5:00am – Mostly cloudy skies with temperatures mainly in the 30s just before dawn in West TN.  High pressure over the area has done little to erode the low clouds that are due to trapped moisture in the lower atmosphere.  The next weather system is organizing in the western plains and will intensify as it approaches today.  With its approach and high pressure retreating to the east, we will see southerly winds push temperatures into the lower 60s today–an early feel of March.

The cold front will push through W. TN tonight; with it comes showers and thunderstorms.  There could be an isolated strong storm.  A slight risk of severe thunderstorms exists for Mississippi, just to our south. 

 The latest thoughts from the NWS:

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN 7 PM AND 3 AM CST TONIGHT ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALONG AND AHEAD OF A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS IS THE
MAIN EXPECTED HAZARD…THOUGH DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL.

A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REST OF THE MIDSOUTH BETWEEN 7 PM AND 3 AM CST TONIGHT.

Colder temperatures will arrive behind the front with temperatures falling to around 40 tonight and not really going anywhere on Tuesday.  Residual moisture and colder air could result in some snow showers mixing in with the rain showers.  Just spotty snow showers are flurries are expected Tuesday night as temperatures fall into the 20s.

Some afternoon sunshine is expected on Wednesday with highs at least 10 degrees below average–the lower 40s. 

We’ll warm up Thursday with the next round of showers and thunderstorms expected by Friday.  February closes out with highs near or just above the average of middle 50s.