761 FXUS64 KMEG 181129 AFDMEGArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 629 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 628 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
- Hot temperatures with a low chance (20 percent or less) of rain will continue through the weekend.
- Temperatures will return to near normal next week as rain chances are on the rise.
- Drought conditions are expected to persist or worsen due to a lack of appreciable rainfall and prolonged heat. This also raises wildland fire concerns through Friday.
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.DISCUSSION... (Tonight through next Wednesday) Issued at 1030 PM CDT Wed Sep 17 2025
Another rinse and repeat forecast is on tap for Thursday. Temperatures will peak in the mid to upper 90s with diurnally driven convection warranting a low (10-15%) PoP. This prolonged hot and mostly dry pattern is due to a modified Omega Block over the central CONUS, which is becoming progressively more vertically squished and tilted with each day. The ridge amplification in the middle of the block is directly overhead, which is why temperatures will peak in the upper 90s on Thursday. This will most likely be the hottest day of the forecast period as it is the most heavily dominated by midlevel ridging.
Moving to the end of the week and into the weekend, the upper level pattern will break down just enough to allow some weak troughing to become the dominant flow regime over the Mid-South. It`s looking like a cold front will make a valiant effort at materializing on Friday, but the mean flow is just not having it. Forecast surface analyses depict this turning into a nondescript frontal mess by Friday afternoon with just enough lift to encourage a slight chance (15-25%) of showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening during the attempted frontogenesis. Temperatures will still be on the hot side, ~5 degrees above normal through at least Sunday. Any rain we do get will most likely be in the form of sporadic single cell convection, which will do no favors for the ongoing drought situation across the area.
Early next week, things finally start to cool off. A very deep trough will start to dig through the northern Plains by Monday. As it approaches the Mid-South, it will continue amplifying to the point of becoming a cutoff low that will gently rotate about the Upper MS River Valley through midweek. This will do wonders for our temperatures, sending them quickly back down to near-normal territory in the mid to upper 80s. In addition, this upper level divergence will give way to more widespread showers and thunderstorms, especially Monday night into Tuesday. This isn`t going to be a drought-busting series of days by any means as QPF next week is barely above 0.5 inches, but it will be a welcomed respite from the blazing sun and heat we`ve had for the last few days. Temperatures look to stay near normal through the end of next week.
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.AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 628 AM CDT Thu Sep 18 2025
VFR with light winds through the period.
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.FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1030 PM CDT Wed Sep 17 2025
Fire weather concerns will peak Thursday afternoon due to afternoon RH values falling below 30% in addition to very hot temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. In addition to the ongoing moderate to severe drought situation, fuels are primed for wildfire danger. Fortunately, winds should remain light enough to preclude any significant fire danger. Humidity will be on the increase as temperatures decrease through the weekend.
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.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
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PUBLIC FORECAST...CAD AVIATION...SJM
NWS MEG Office Area Forecast Discussion