Mississippi – Cold air slides south behind stiff north winds, rattling windows and cutting through jackets across the Gulf Coast. The warmth of recent days fades quickly, replaced by a sharp chill that feels unusual for late December along the coast.
Cold Weather Advisories now blanket much of southern Mississippi, southeast Louisiana, coastal Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and southwest Georgia. The most dangerous conditions arrive late Monday night into early Tuesday, when wind chills plunge into the upper teens and lower 20s, with a few spots near 17 degrees.
Across south and central Mississippi, including Natchez, Brookhaven, Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Columbia, wind chills dip as low as 19 degrees between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday. In parts of Louisiana, lingering winds today ease tonight, but colder air deepens. Mississippi River parishes, Baton Rouge suburbs, and coastal counties face a biting start to Tuesday.
Along the Gulf Coast from Mobile and Pensacola to Gulfport and Biloxi, the cold snap arrives with lingering breezes. Wind chills near 17 to 20 degrees raise hypothermia concerns for anyone outdoors too long. For the Florida Panhandle and south Alabama, dense fog early Monday gives way to clearing skies and falling temperatures by nightfall.
Travel impacts grow late tonight. Clear skies and cold pavement raise the risk of frost and patchy black ice, especially on bridges and elevated roadways during early commutes. Plan extra time if traveling before sunrise, and dress in layers.
The cold relaxes slowly. Tuesday stays chilly despite sunshine, with highs mostly in the 40s and lower 50s. Milder air returns by Wednesday and New Year’s Eve, setting up a calmer New Year’s Day 2026 across the Gulf Coast.
This is a rare cold stretch for the region. Bring pets indoors, protect plants, and check on neighbors. Feeling the cold already where you live?
