Mississippi weather: When will extreme cold warning and cold weather advisory lift?

Parts of Mississippi are still getting the last of a few flurries from a snow storm that’s hit the central U.S. and will continue moving toward the eastern seaboard this week.

The weather system brought an Arctic air blast from the polar vortex that will stay for a few days, and much of Mississippi will be under a cold weather advisory Wednesday and into Thursday. Forecasters at weather.com said more than 100 record lows could be set, including along the Gulf Coast.

National Weather Service data said some snow was still falling around Memphis and Greenwood as the system rolled out of the state Wednesday morning.

Some areas of the Magnolia State will be under extreme cold warnings. Wind chills as low as 10 degrees below zero could affect parts of North Mississippi, East Arkansas and West Tennessee.

Wind chills could drop temps to the teens or single digits in other parts of the state, leading the National Weather Service to issue cold weather advisories.

Here’s what we know so far.

What’s an extreme cold warning?

According the NWS, an extreme cold warning is issued “when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are expected or occurring.”

If you’re in an area under a warning, they advise you to avoid going outside. Dress in layers and make sure at least one other person knows where you are before you leave for a new location and let them know when you get there.

Will I be under an extreme cold warning?

According to the NWS, the following cold weather advisories are in effect or planned as of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday:

• Oxford: 9 p.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Thursday.
• Southaven: 9 p.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Thursday.

What’s a cold weather advisory?

The NWS defines a cold weather advisory as notice of when “seasonably cold air temperatures or wind chill values, but not extremely cold values, are expected or occurring.”

When will cold weather advisories lift?

According to the NWS, the following cold weather advisories are in effect or planned as of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday:

• Oxford: now until 10 a.m. Wednesday.
• Southaven: now until 10 a.m. Wednesday.
• Greenwood: 4:21 a.m. Wednesday through noon Thursday.
• Jackson: 6 p.m. Wednesday through noon Thursday.
• Hattiesburg: 6 p.m. Wednesday through noon Thursday.
• Columbus: 6 p.m. Wednesday through noon Thursday.
• Gulfport: 6 p.m. Wednesday through noon Thursday.

Be ready: Mississippi will get blast of Arctic air. Prepare to protect your home, family, pets

What’s the forecast in Mississippi this week?

Southaven

• Wednesday: High 25°F, low 10°F, extreme cold warning overnight.
• Thursday: High 24°F, low 10°F, extreme cold warning until 10 a.m.
• Friday: High 33°F, low 22°F.
• Saturday: High 42°F, low 27°F.
• Sunday: High 52°F, low 37°F.

Oxford

• Wednesday: High 31°F, low 9°F, extreme cold warning overnight.
• Thursday: High 28°F, low 9°F, extreme cold warning until 10 a.m.
• Friday: High 39°F, low 21°F.
• Saturday: High 45°F, low 26°F.
• Sunday: High 54°F, low 34°F.

Jackson

• Wednesday: High 38°F, low 19°F, cold weather advisory overnight.
• Thursday: High 36°F, low 20°F, cold weather advisory until noon.
• Friday: High 45°F, low 28°F.
• Saturday: High 51°F, low 34°F.
• Sunday: High 59°F, low 39°F, slight chance of rain in the morning.

Greenwood

• Wednesday: High 33°F, low 16°F, cold weather advisory in effect all day.
• Thursday: High 30°F, low 17°F, cold weather advisory in effect until noon.
• Friday: High 40°F, low 25°F.
• Saturday: High 46°F, low 30°F.
• Sunday: High 56°F, low 38°F.

Columbus/West Point/Starkville

• Wednesday: High 40°F, low 18°F, cold weather advisory overnight.
• Thursday: High 34°F, low 17°F.
• Friday: High 44°F, low 24°F.
• Saturday: High 51°F, low 28°F.
• Sunday: High 56°F, low 33°F.

Hattiesburg

• Wednesday: High 47°F, low 24°F, cold weather advisory overnight.
• Thursday: High 43°F, low 23°F, cold weather advisory until noon.
• Friday: High 49°F, low 31°F.
• Saturday: High 56°F, low 36°F, slight chance of rain overnight.
• Sunday: High 59°F, low 38°F, slight chance of rain in the morning.

Gulfport

• Wednesday: High 56°F, low 28°F, cold weather advisory overnight.
• Thursday: High 47°F, low 28°F, cold weather advisory until noon.
• Friday: High 51°F, low 38°F.
• Saturday: High 58°F, low 42°F, slight chance of overnight showers.
• Sunday: High 60°F, low 44°F, chance of showers before noon.

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See the Mississippi weather radar

Why does it keep getting so cold?

According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which manages the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research, polar air comes south sometimes where the polar jet stream wanders.

As they describe it, the polar vortex circles the north pole counterclockwise. the polar jet stream circles at a lower level of the atmosphere, which usually keeps Arctic air corralled in the middle.

When the polar vortex is weak, the jet stream pattern wanders around a bit instead of staying in place “like a toupee that goes askew.”

The scientists that make up UCAR say predicting the pattern is getting harder because the Arctic is warming at a rapid rate.

See photos from the last major snow storm in Mississippi

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.