Forecast Discussion


112
FXUS64 KMEG 111741
AFDMEG

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1141 AM CST Wed Feb 11 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 1141 AM CST Wed Feb 11 2026

- Mild weather will persist through the end of the week with highs
  in the 50s and 60s.

- A low pressure system will bring another round of rainfall
  beginning Saturday that will last through Sunday. A few
  thunderstorms are expected amidst widespread rain showers.

- Weekend rain totals will be in the 1.5 to 2.5 inch range.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(This afternoon through next Tuesday)
Issued at 1141 AM CST Wed Feb 11 2026

Surface analysis currently shows a cold front draped across
central Mississippi with an area of  high pressure building
across the Midwest. Aloft, a ridge currently resides over the
eastern Rocky Mountains with an upper low off the coast of
California and another upper low over the northeast. Weak CAA
behind the cold front will allow the majority of the Mid-South to
climb above 50 degrees daily through the remainder of the week.
Throughout this time, the ridge over the Rocky Mountains will
also propagate eastward, reducing the potential for rain as well,
keeping a mild, dry pattern.

The western upper trough, currently off the Californian
coastline, will follow the ridge and eventually reach the region
Saturday. Moisture advection ahead of the system is forecast to
increase PWATs above the 90th percentile through Sunday with rain
showers forecast beginning Saturday morning along a warm front
across Western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and the Missouri
Bootheel. A surface low will also develop beneath the upper
system and will bring additional rain to the entire area along a
cold front. There is some instability with recent GFS runs
producing upwards of 500 J/kg - 750 J/kg of MUCAPE Sunday
afternoon. However, the LREF ensemble mean struggles to bring
more than 100 J/kg into north Mississippi, suggesting that there
is still some uncertainty amongst the ensemble suite regarding
the level of destabilization. Regardless, occasional thunder is
expected within stronger, more convective showers, especially
along the surface cold front as it passes Sunday. Severe chances
are low, mainly due to the uncertainty in destabilization, but
even if there is sufficient instability in place, effective shear
values will only be in the 20 knots - 25 knots. Rainfall
accumulations are generally around 1.5" -  2.5", a trend away
from the 2" - 3" from a couple days ago. Locally higher amounts
are still possible in any areas that experience convection.

The low pressure system and cold front will exit the region to
the east overnight Sunday and into Monday morning. Similar to
this week, CAA behind this weekend`s system will be rather weak.
So, temperatures will remain mild with highs in the 60s Monday
and Tuesday with dry weather. Southerly WAA will kick off Tuesday
ahead of another upper low, lasting into Wednesday with highs
increasing a tad further into the low to mid 70s. Ensemble spread
increases into Thursday, especially with regards to the evolution
of the surface pattern, typical of a system this far into the
forecast. Therefore, a low (< 30%) chance of rain showers
currently exists for Thursday, which is expected to change in the
coming days.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1141 AM CST Wed Feb 11 2026

A dry post-frontal airmass will bring VFR at Midsouth TAF sites
through the next 30 hours. The surface high pressure ridge center
will settle into the lower Ohio River Valley this evening,
resulting in light northeast winds through Thursday afternoon.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1141 AM CST Wed Feb 11 2026

Wetting rains from Tuesday will keep minimum relative humidity
values at or above 40% Wednesday, decreasing to between 30% and
40% Thursday. 20 ft winds will decrease from 7 knots today to
below 5 knots through the end of the period early tonight.
Therefore, fire concerns remain low through the remainder of the
week. More wetting rains are expected this upcoming weekend.

&&


.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
MO...None.
MS...None.
TN...None.
&&

$$

PUBLIC FORECAST...JAB
AVIATION...PWB