Active Weather for Christmas Week

It appears we'll have an active weather pattern leading into Christmas this year.  An initial weather system will likely affect the area Sunday night and Monday morning with rain and the possibility of strong thunderstorms.  While the timing is uncertain, it appears the greatest chance for storms will be from midnight to noon on Monday, with the highest risk of storms in the eastern part of the state.

The second major system will develop and affect us on Christmas Day into Tuesday night.  Models indicate a storm system will develop near the Texas - Louisiana border and track northeast through Mississippi, and rapidly intensify as it moves into the state.  Depending on where the low pressure center tracks, expect severe storms with heavy rainfall and the possibility of tornadoes to the south and east of the system.  Right now, it appears that the greatest risk will be south and east of a Natchez-to-Meridian line, with a rain possibly changing into snow over the Delta area Tuesday night.

I won't promise a "white Christmas", but the chance to see our first winter weather exists.

The key message here is that while uncertainty exists on the final outcome of this developing weather system, models are in pretty good agreement.  Therefore, take precautions this weekend and plan your holiday traveling accordingly.  Remain vigilant and monitor developing weather conditions closely.  Above all, stay safe!

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
256 PM CST SAT DEC 22 2012

ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND-
BOLIVAR-SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-
WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-
256 PM CST SAT DEC 22 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL
MISSISSIPPI...NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SUNDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY

A FEW STRONG STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL UP TO PENNY
SIZE...HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WILL BE POSSIBLE
SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY MONDAY AS A FAST MOVING DISTURBANCE
AFFECTS THE REGION.

A MUCH MORE COMPLEX AND POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO
EVOLVE OVER THE REGION CHRISTMAS DAY. INITIALLY...THERE WILL BE
POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN OF ONE TO THREE INCHES TO DEVELOP TUESDAY
INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. THEN AS COLDER AIR SURGES SOUTHWARD BEHIND THE
SYSTEM...RAIN COULD CHANGE OVER TO SNOW OVER NORTHERN PORTIONS OF
THE ARKLAMISS. LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS...ESPECIALLY ON GRASSY SURFACES
WILL BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY MORNING. THERE IS STILL A CONSIDERABLE
AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THIS STORM SYSTEM AND EVERYONE IS
URGED TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND OUTLOOKS.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER
OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT.

***DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE AS YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS WEBSITE DELIVERS FOCUSED INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY WEATHER WARNING INFORMATION***