The combined effects of persistent above-normal temperatures and minimal precipitation starting in late April 2026 resulted in mounting drought impacts across portions of much of northern, southern and central Mississippi. S.
Every event with a place to put it; 47 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS JAN wrote it up.
The combined effects of persistent above-normal temperatures and minimal precipitation starting in late April 2026 resulted in mounting drought impacts across portions of much of northern, southern and central Mississippi. Through the month of May, D1 (Moderate Drought), D2 (Severe Drought), and D3 (Extreme Drought) conditions, as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor, expanded to affect areas generally from south of a line from Issaquena County to Forrest County. D4 (Exceptional Drought) conditions developed through northwest portions of the area including portions of Bolivar County and Washington County. Average temperatures for the month in these areas ranged from 2 to 4 degrees F above normal. Observed precipitation values ranged from 45 percent of normal to lower than 25 percent of normal. Soil moisture values continued to worsen through the month, with subsoil moisture values between 20 to 30 percent below normal for much of the affected area. This placed a severe stress on pastures for livestock and began to reduce expected yield from row crops. Pine plantations and Christmas tree farms experienced severe losses especially among younger trees. Streamflows on creeks and rivers were reduced.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 30, 11:33 PM CST, 27 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson MS 1233 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - An active weather pattern will continue through Friday. - Dry and cooler conditions will return this weekend. && .MESOSCALE UPDATE... Issued at 715 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 Short-term weather elements were updated through the day tomorrow. Synoptic scale lift south of the jet stream will continue to bring periods of rain to our forecast area through the day tomorrow, and a shortwave disturbance will bring an increase in heavier rain potential closer to the Gulf Coast tomorrow. /NF/ && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 414 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 Through Friday: Cooler than normal with increasing rain chances through the period. Latest surface analysis showed the stalled front along the Gulf coast and an 1018mb high centered over the mid Mississippi valley that was spreading south across our CWA. Latest satellite imagery/RAP analysis had near zonal flow across our region downstream of a cutoff low spinning over southern California. Subtle disturbances within the near zonal flow were helping maintain stratus over our CWA along with some light rain generally Interstate 20 and south. This will remain the case tonight but the cutoff low will be shifting east and opening up tonight as well. As the resulting shortwave trough moves across the southern Plains Friday it will serve to increase widespread rain chances across our CWA. As compared to previous model runs yesterday, overall storm total rain amounts have come in much lower. The best chance for thunderstorms will be across our southern zones where the heaviest rainfall amounts of one to two inches are expected. This will be over a long enough period where flooding in not expected to be a concern. This will be much needed rainfall to put a dent in the antecedent drought conditions. The decent rain chances and associated cloud cover will help hold high temperatures in the 60s. Our normal highs for May 1st are around 80F. /22/ Friday Night through next Wednesday: A shortwave moving east through the region will continue to bring widespread showers, with some embedded rumbles of thunder, to mainly central and southern portions of the forecast area Friday night. Towards day break Saturday, this activity will steadily end from west to east across the CWA through mid-day. Skies will also clear through the day with breezy north winds expected. This combination will aid in drying things out across the region during the weekend, after a week of some much needed rainfall. The northerly winds will also result in some cooler conditions across the CWA this weekend. Quiet weather will persist into the start of the new work week. Conditions will also warm during this time as moisture subtly increases across the region. Despite some placement and timing issues at the moment, the next system to affect the forecast area currently looks to fall into the Tuesday night through Wednesday timeframe. This system will again bring good rain chances back to the forecast area during the middle of next week. /19/ && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1233 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026 Areas of mainly light rain continue to spread across the region early this morning. Periods of rain will continue through the end of the TAF period, and it will become more moderate to heavy during the daytime hours into this evening, especially from TVR - JAN - MEI and south, where MVFR to IFR ceilings will be prevalent. There could also be isolated thunder at times this afternoon and evening. Periodic visibility reductions will occur later today into this evening in heavier rain. Farther north, ceilings may remain at VFR levels even with periods of -RA. Rain will begin to decrease after midnight Friday night. /DL/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 63 51 69 45 / 80 100 10 0 Meridian 64 49 69 43 / 80 100 20 0 Vicksburg 63 51 70 45 / 90 90 0 0 Hattiesburg 67 51 70 44 / 80 100 20 0 Natchez 62 51 70 46 / 90 100 10 0 Greenville 66 52 71 47 / 60 70 0 0 Greenwood 67 51 71 45 / 50 80 0 0 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. && NF/22/19/DL
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jackson MS
953 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0227 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 NE Taylorsville 31.90N 89.37W
04/29/2026 Smith MS Emergency Mngr
Several trees down on MS highway 531.
&&
OAJPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jackson MS
955 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0221 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 NE Center Ridge 31.97N 89.44W
04/29/2026 Smith MS Emergency Mngr
Several trees down on smith county road 84.
&&
OAJPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1209 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1009 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 NNW Wayside 33.33N 91.06W
04/28/2026 Washington MS Broadcast Media
A large tree snapped and fell onto a house
along Wilcox Rd.
&&
DLThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
47 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought conditions in Bolivar County intensified from D3 (Extreme Drought) to D4 (Exceptional Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Adams County intensified from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D2 (Severe Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Attala County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Carroll County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Choctaw County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Claiborne County intensified from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D2 (Severe Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Clarke County decreased in intensity from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought).
Drought conditions in Clay County decreased in intensity from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought).
Drought conditions in Copiah County decreased in intensity from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Covington County decreased in intensity from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Forrest County decreased from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Franklin County decreased from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Grenada County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Hinds County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Holmes County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Humphreys County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Issaquena County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Jasper County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Jefferson County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Jefferson Davis County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Jones County decreased from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Kemper County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Lamar County decreased from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Lauderdale County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Lawrence County decreased from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Leake County decreased from D3 (Extreme Drought) to D2 (Severe Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Leflore County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Lincoln County decreased from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Lowndes County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Madison County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Marion County decreased from D1 (Moderate Drought) to D0 (Abnormally Dry) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Montgomery County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Neshoba County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Newton County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Noxubee County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Oktibbeha County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Rankin County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Scott County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Sharkey County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Simpson County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Smith County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Sunflower County intensified from D3 (Extreme Drought) to D4 (Exceptional Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Warren County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Washington County intensified from D3 (Extreme Drought) to D4 (Exceptional Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Webster County decreased from D2 (Severe Drought) to D1 (Moderate Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Winston County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Drought conditions in Yazoo County intensified from D2 (Severe Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought) as depicted on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, May 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1354899, 1354900, 1354902, 1354903, 1354915, 1354916, 1354922, 1354924, 1354931, 1356394, 1356396, 1356398, 1356401, 1356405, 1356407, 1356410, 1356412, 1356418, 1356421, 1356425, 1356431, 1356434, 1356435, 1356437, 1356443, 1356446, 1356448, 1356453, 1356458, 1356459, 1356460, 1356461, 1356463, 1356466, 1356468, 1356473, 1356477, 1356487, 1356490, 1356492, and more.