Mississippi Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg, and Biloxi
Summary
Mississippi endured its 3rd warmest July on record as an unrelenting heat dome trapped high humidity and pushed heat index values well above 38°C across much of the state. Average temperatures reached 28.56°C, sitting 1.6°C above the long-term baseline during a month that also ranked as the 3rd hottest globally for land temperatures. The intense mid-summer heat coincided with drier conditions across the region, though cooler weather is expected to remain distant as the state enters the late summer and autumn months.
This month in numbers
July 2026 was the 3rd warmest on record for Mississippi since state records began in 1950, averaging 28.56°C with an anomaly of +1.6°C above the 1961-1990 baseline. Daytime maximums climbed to 34.11°C, ranking as the 13th warmest on record, while overnight minimums stayed elevated at 22.94°C, sitting 2.0°C above normal. Rainfall dropped sharply after a wet spring, delivering just 76.71 mm of precipitation, which was 47 mm below average and ranked as the 70th driest July on record. The state's high temperatures mirrored a global pattern, as global land temperatures recorded their 3rd warmest July on record at 15.8°C with a +1.6°C anomaly.
What changed
Over the broader May to July period, Mississippi averaged 25.63°C (+1.0°C anomaly), making it the 16th warmest such season in 77 years of data. Despite the dry end to the period, heavy rainfall during late spring and early summer kept the 3-month total at 446.79 mm (+91.8 mm anomaly), ranking as the 15th wettest May-Jul stretch. Across the NOAA South climate region (US South), Mississippi emerged as the top monthly mover, running 0.35°C warmer than the group average. On a worldwide scale, the global 3-month land temperature averaged 14.34°C (+1.5°C anomaly), marking the 2nd warmest May-Jul period on record.
What’s driving change?
The atmospheric that stalled across the southern United States acted as the primary driver of the state's elevated temperatures, locking hot, humid air in place. Regional warming is further amplified because , causing continental interiors to heat up more rapidly than coastal waters. Tropical Pacific conditions are currently in a moderate El Niño state, which is forecast to peak as a Very Strong El Niño between September and November (ENSO). While El Niño historically shows a weak signal for summer in the Deep South, it tends to favour cooler, wetter conditions later in the year.
Looking ahead
Seasonal forecasts for late summer and autumn favour above-average temperatures across Mississippi, though the intensifying El Niño may gradually bring wetter and cooler conditions to the state as winter approaches.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USUnited States
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp), plus GPCC (Snow, water-equivalent). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Mississippi
Köppen Cfa · TemperateMississippi has a temperate climate (Köppen Cfa: Humid subtropical), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 27.8°C, while January is the coldest at 7.8°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1521mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Mississippi
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Heatwave Days – Mississippi
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Mississippi
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Monthly Temperature – Mississippi
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Records – Mississippi
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Cfa · TemperateHow spring and autumn have shifted in Mississippi. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (17.3°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 20.3°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+2.8°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Climate Systems
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Emissions & Energy
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Mississippi
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Statewide monthly temperature and precipitation (nClimDiv).
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Mississippi changing?
Mississippi is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Mississippi?
Mississippi has a temperate climate (Köppen Cfa: Humid subtropical), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 27.8°C, while January is the coldest at 7.8°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1521mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for Mississippi come from?
Climate data for Mississippi comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Mississippi climate data cover?
The Mississippi climate profile covers Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg and surrounding areas. Mississippi climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Mississippi climate update refreshed?
The Mississippi climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Mississippi climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Mississippi climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.