JACKSON, Miss. – A dangerous wave of heat is tightening its grip on Mississippi, with temperatures in the middle 90s and heat indices climbing as high as 110°F in parts of the state. The most intense conditions are hitting western counties today, but forecasters warn the heat will spread east by midweek, raising the risk of heat exhaustion across a wider area.
According to the National Weather Service in Jackson, areas in the “Elevated” risk zone—primarily from Greenville to Vicksburg—could see prolonged periods where outdoor activity becomes hazardous. Central and eastern Mississippi are under a “Limited” risk today, with heat indices near 105°F, but those areas are expected to join the higher-risk category by Wednesday.
Residents are urged to limit strenuous outdoor activity, drink plenty of water, and check on vulnerable neighbors. Officials stress never leaving children or pets in vehicles, as interior temperatures can rise rapidly to life-threatening levels.
This pattern of heat is expected to linger into late week, keeping much of the state under advisories and increasing strain on power grids and outdoor workers. Additional heat alerts are possible if conditions worsen.
