DeSoto County could see its first hard freeze of the season early Saturday morning, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Memphis. Before the cold arrives, a strong cold front will cross the area on Veterans Day afternoon and could bring scattered showers and a few thunderstorms.
In its Monday midday forecast discussion, the Weather Service said high pressure settling over the Mid-South Friday night “will set the stage for freezing temperatures areawide,” with a hard freeze, defined as 28 degrees or colder, likely in the low-lying valleys of West Tennessee and north Mississippi. That is a colder outlook than forecasters gave over the weekend.
DeSoto County Hard Freeze Outlook for Saturday Morning
The official point forecast for the Hernando area now calls for a low around 32 degrees Friday night under clear skies. Rural and low-lying parts of the county, especially fields, creek bottoms and areas away from the Goodman Road and I-55 corridors, typically run several degrees colder than the forecast for town centers, so readings in the upper 20s are possible there.
The Weather Service’s regional temperature table, updated Monday morning, shows Saturday lows of 30 in Holly Springs and Oxford, 31 in Tunica and 34 in Memphis, with highs Friday only around 50 degrees.
Ways to prepare before Friday evening:
Plants: Bring in potted plants and cover tender shrubs and late garden vegetables with a sheet or frost cloth, not plastic.
Pets and livestock: Make sure outdoor animals have shelter, bedding and water that won’t freeze.
Pipes: Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets. Exposed pipes in crawl spaces and well houses are most at risk.
Heaters: Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn, and never run a generator or grill indoors.
Veterans Day Front Could Bring Storms
The week starts mild. Highs will reach near 70 Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday, Veterans Day, should be the warmest day, with a high near 73 and a southwest wind of 5 to 15 mph. Outdoor Veterans Day events in the morning and early afternoon look dry.
A strong cold front is expected to move through Wednesday afternoon into early evening. The Weather Service puts rain chances in the Hernando area at about 20 percent, with regional chances ranging from 30 to 60 percent and rainfall totals generally under a quarter inch. Forecasters noted wind and instability levels that “would suggest some support for strong to marginal severe storms,” mainly north and east of Memphis. Areas north of a line from Jonesboro to Memphis to Tupelo have the best chance of soaking rain.
Chilly Night for Friday Playoff Games
Behind the front, Thursday turns breezy and cooler, with a high near 60 and a northwest wind of 10 to 15 mph, followed by a low around 37. Friday will be sunny but cold, with a high near 50, and temperatures will fall quickly after sunset.
That matters for the five DeSoto County teams opening the MHSAA football playoffs Friday at 7 p.m. Fans heading to Lake Cormorant, Center Hill and DeSoto Central for home games, or traveling to Madison Central and Oxford, should plan for temperatures in the 30s by the fourth quarter. Blankets, gloves and layers are a good idea.
DeSoto County Forecast at a Glance
Monday night: Partly cloudy, low around 45.
Tuesday: Patchy morning fog, then partly sunny; high near 70, low around 51.
Wednesday (Veterans Day): Mostly sunny and warm, high near 73; 20 percent chance of showers and storms in the afternoon and evening. Low around 48.
Thursday: Sunny and cooler, high near 60; low around 37.
Friday: Sunny and cold, high near 50; clear Friday night with a low around 32.
Saturday: Sunny, high near 53; low around 35.
Temperatures should return to near normal by Monday, Nov. 16, as an upper-level ridge builds in from the west. The forecast can change, so check the latest from the National Weather Service in Memphis before making plans.
