Weather
Mid-South Weather: 95° Heat Before 30° Cooldown by Oct 17
Memphis, TN – Residents across the Mid South are preparing for an unusually hot Columbus Day week, with temperatures approaching 95 degrees in some communities before a cold front brings a dramatic co
By Natalie Brooks · 2026-10-11T20:30:32.721Z
Memphis, TN – Residents across the Mid South are preparing for an unusually hot Columbus Day week, with temperatures approaching 95 degrees in some communities before a cold front brings a dramatic cooldown by the weekend.
According to the National Weather Service in Memphis, temperatures will climb approximately 15 degrees above normal through midweek, with near record highs possible across western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi and the Missouri Bootheel.
Columbus Day Heat Could Challenge Records
Monday, Oct. 12, will bring widespread temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s.
Memphis is forecast to reach 91 degrees Monday, while Jonesboro, Arkansas, could reach 93 degrees.
Clarksdale, Mississippi, is expected to climb to 94 degrees, with similar temperatures continuing through the middle of the week.
Wednesday could be particularly hot, with Clarksdale reaching 95 degrees and Memphis remaining near 92 degrees.
The National Weather Service says temperatures may challenge historical records during this unusually warm October stretch.
Storm Chances Increase North of I 40
A frontal boundary is expected to stall north of the region during the middle of the week, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms mainly north of Interstate 40.
Wednesday rain chances reach 60% in Jonesboro, Arkansas, 55% in Union City, Tennessee, and 50% in Dyersburg.
Rainfall totals between half an inch and 1 inch are possible across northeast Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel and extreme northwestern Tennessee.
Cold Front Brings Sharp Weekend Cooldown
The front is expected to move through the region late in the week, bringing significantly cooler temperatures.
Memphis could fall from 92 degrees Wednesday to 66 degrees Saturday.
Jonesboro is forecast to cool from 92 degrees Wednesday to 65 degrees Saturday, while Kennett, Missouri, could drop from 90 degrees to 63 degrees.
Some communities could experience temperature declines approaching 30 degrees.
Residents should prepare for several hot, mostly dry afternoons before cooler conditions arrive Friday and Saturday.