Star Weather: This week’s weather outlook

Published 6:00 am Monday, November 14, 2011

   An active weather pattern is expected for the first half of the week across East Mississippi and West Alabama as an upper level low along with a slow moving cold front affect the area.  Gusty southerly winds will continue to transport moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico Monday leading to the development of scattered showers and a few thunderstorms that will continue into Monday night.  Monday will be very warm by mid-November standards with highs reaching near 80 degrees along with southerly winds gusting to around 25 miles per hour.  Low temperatures for Monday night will be mild in the low to mid 60s.  

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    The main storm system will affect the region Tuesday through the first half of Wednesday as the upper level system moves in from the west and the slow moving cold front advances toward the area from the northwest.  Numerous showers and thunderstorms (80% coverage) are expected with locally heavy downpours and perhaps a few strong to severe thunderstorms.  As of now, the severe threat appears limited; however, a slight risk of severe weather could be introduced for the Lower Mississippi Valley as we head into Tuesday and Tuesday night.  The main severe weather threat would come in the form of damaging winds and isolated tornadoes, but remember the overall threat is still rather low.  Tuesday’s high temperatures are expected to reach the mid to upper 70s with lows Tuesday night in the lower 60s.  Rain should come to an end by noon Wednesday as the cold front moves east of the area, but clouds will probably stick around for a good part of the day with highs only in the 60s with chilly northerly winds behind the front. 

    Mostly sunny skies will return for Thursday and Friday with highs in the lower 60s and lows returning to the 30s.  This weekend should remain pleasant and dry, but rain and storms are expected again by early next week.  Have a great week.  

    Trent Hughes is a meteorologist with several years of experience in broadcasting.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Geosciences and Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University.  Email him at trent_hughes@hughes.net.