Tippah County weather will turn noticeably more comfortable after a stronger cold front moves through Sunday evening, but the drought-stricken area should not expect much rain from it. The National Weather Service in Memphis is forecasting sunny skies and cooler nights for Ripley, Walnut, Blue Mountain and the rest of the county from Monday through at least midweek.
Weekend: Clouds, Humidity and a Few Showers
A weak cold front slid through the Mid-South Friday afternoon, leaving behind clouds, patchy drizzle and northeast winds Saturday morning. Forecasters said that front may drift back north into northeast Mississippi on Saturday, pushing highs back into the low 80s here while much of West Tennessee stays in the 70s.
The NWS point forecast for the Ripley area calls for:
Saturday: High near 82 with about a 22% chance of a passing shower.
Saturday night: Low near 65, mostly cloudy, around a 26% chance of showers.
Sunday: High near 80 with a 33% chance of showers or a thunderstorm before the front passes.
Sunday night: Low near 58 as drier air arrives.
In its fire weather outlook, the weather service said chances for wetting rain are very low and limited mainly to north Mississippi, so any showers that do pop up are unlikely to make a real dent in dry conditions.
Tippah County Weather Next Week: Sunny and Mild
Behind Sunday’s front, a cooler and much less humid air mass settles over the region. The NWS said Tuesday morning is likely to be the coolest of the week, with lows in the upper 40s to low 50s across the Mid-South. The Ripley forecast shows:
Monday: Sunny, high near 80; low near 52 Monday night.
Tuesday: Sunny, high near 82; low near 55.
Wednesday: Sunny, high near 83; low near 53.
Rain chances are listed at 0% from Monday through Wednesday night. Later in the week, an upper-level ridge is expected to build in, pushing afternoon highs well into the 80s, roughly 7 to 10 degrees above normal for early October. Forecasters noted a possible weak tropical disturbance along the Gulf Coast next weekend, but said confidence is low that it will bring meaningful rain to the Mid-South.
Drought and Fire Danger Remain a Concern
The dry pattern comes as drought tightens its grip on the area. In the most recent county figures from the U.S. Drought Monitor (valid Sept. 22), all of Tippah County was in at least moderate drought (D1), and about 45% of the county had slipped into severe drought (D2). Benton County was entirely in moderate drought with about 15% in severe drought, while Hardeman County, Tennessee, home to Middleton, had about 76% in severe drought.
With sunshine, low humidity and breezy afternoons in the forecast, residents are urged to use caution with any outdoor burning, check for local burn ban orders before lighting a fire, and avoid tossing cigarettes or parking hot vehicles in dry grass. Farmers and gardeners should also plan for continued irrigation needs into mid-October.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
