Wednesday Weather Update

It's the question I've been asked almost every hour by viewers: "Is it really going to snow?" The answer is, it is likely.

The weather set up we have coming our way spells out a classic snow pattern for the state of Mississippi. A low pressure system will come of the Gulf of Mexico and follow along the coastline. Cold air already in place will change the rain over to sleet first, then to snow as the night progresses. It looks as if late Thursday afternoon, rain could be mixed with some sleet pellets across southwest Mississippi. As the moisture overspreads the state, it changes over to flakes Thursday night and Friday.

The exact track of the low pressure area has everything to do with this snow possibility and how much snow you could receive. Should the low shift farther south, most of north and central Mississippi would miss out on the snow chances. Keep the low right on it's current track and north Mississippi could get a light dusting to an inch; central and south Mississippi could see it's first measureable snowfall since early December. Right now, this track seems more similar to the track we had on December 4, 2009 (remember that one?).

Please understand this whole forecast could change completely should the low track farther south. That's why it is important to keep it tuned to WLBT for the latest.

We'll run another set of computer models later this afternoon and I'll have any changes and updates on WLBT today at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm & 10pm. For now, here is the latest graphical depiction from the NWS:

By the way, the Valentines Blood Drive at Mississippi Blood Service on Lakeland Drive in Jackson will still happen Thursday. So come give blood before the weather changes late Thursday night!