Dry, cool temps follow showers

Published 10:13 am Tuesday, December 1, 2015

The dog days of summer are behind us now with a few balmy, overcast days ushering in the cold.

Rainy conditions will continue in Vicksburg through Wednesday night with dryer conditions and colder temperatures hitting the area starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday, said forecasters at the National Weather Service.

“It looks like the weekend will be dry,” NWS meteorologist Ed Tarver said. “By Wednesday night the rain will have moved out of the area.”

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Monday temperatures reached the low 70s. With a typical high of 63 degrees this time of year, some places were running 15 degrees above the usual temperatures, due to a pattern of warm air being pulled into the area from the gulf by a jet stream and no strong cold systems moving in yet, Tarver said.

Current temperatures may be higher than average, but this weekend will bring in slightly lower than average temperatures. Lows will be in the 30s starting Wednesday night through Friday night with highs in the 50s during the day.

“We’re going from warmer than normal then we’ll be a little cooler than normal later in the week and into the weekend,” Tarver said.

Recent above average rainfall and average temperatures on the horizon have contributed to NOAA not predicting any snow in the area through the end of the year.

November 24 marked the first day no part of Warren County was under a drought warning since July 21.

“All the rain that we’ve had has taken us out of that,” Tarver said. “We’re in good shape as far as that goes.”

Many local famers and gardeners have felt the sting of this summer’s drought.

“Some suffered due to the heavy rains we had early in the season and were negatively affected again by the severe drought we had later in the year,” Warren County extension agent Anna McCain said. “Row crop farmers who were not able to irrigate, most likely saw reduced yields for 2015.”

Dry conditions in addition to effecting the crops also impacts some farmer’s operations expenses into the winter even with the drought being over.

“Pasturelands suffered greatly, forcing cattle farmers to feed early in the year,” McCain said. “This means they will have extra expenses throughout the winter providing feed and hay for their cattle.”

She added that not only does the weather directly effect the farmer’s operations, but it also has an economic impact on city and tourism within the city. It is important, she said, to have an aesthetically pleasing landscape to create a welcoming atmosphere.

“Another thing to consider when looking at how the weather effects our local community are our landscape trees, shrubs and plants,” McCain said. “These ornamental crops have a significant aesthetic value and also suffered from the drought.”