The extreme heat is here and in full force.
Throughout the day Saturday, record-challenging temperatures have roasted the entire state of Mississippi with the National Weather Service (NWS) confirming calendar day heat records in both Jackson and Vicksburg.
According to a social media post from NWS Jackson, the temperature at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport reached 104 degrees at 2:15 p.m., breaking the previous record of 102 degrees set in 1902 and 1924.
At 4:20 p.m. at the Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport, the temperature cracked 104 degrees, breaking the record of 101 degrees set in 1964.
Some additional highs (as of 230 PM, these could still go higher):
103F at Hattiesburg
103F at Tallulah/Vicksburg (new record)
101F at Greenwood
100F at Meridian
99F at Greenville— NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) August 5, 2023
To maximize safety in the brutal conditions, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is offering the following tips:
- Stay hydrated
- Limit time outdoors
- Stay in the shade when outdoors
- Wear light-colored clothing
- Never leave kids or pets in vehicles
- Give pets adequate shelter and water
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Mississippi was 115 degrees on July 29, 1930 in Holly Springs.
