Friday brings an air-quality concern for DeSoto County and the wider Memphis metro as unusual September heat continues across Mississippi. Overnight weather updates add detail about where heat stress will be greatest today and how it could broaden over the weekend.
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A new governor’s office release reports record August payroll employment. Elsewhere, a state agriculture announcement gives families a route to request excused absences for qualifying educational events, Olive Branch has moved its Public Works office, and Meridian is highlighting free adult education services. A newly promoted storm-spotter class also has a firm date on the National Weather Service calendar: September 24.
Friday ozone forecast includes the DeSoto County area
The National Weather Service in Memphis has shared a Code Orange ozone forecast for Friday across the Memphis metropolitan area. Its accompanying map includes the northern Mississippi portion of the metro, with Hernando labeled in the affected area.
The graphic, updated at 8:01 p.m. Thursday, identifies the expected air quality as unhealthy for sensitive groups. It specifically calls attention to older adults, children and people with heart or lung conditions. The agency advises frequent breaks during outdoor activities and attention to unusual fatigue.
This adds an air-quality consideration to the heat planning already facing north Mississippi residents. The forecast concerns Friday; it should not be read as a confirmed measurement of ozone at every location or as a statewide air-quality alert. Readers can see the official NWS announcement and map and our full ozone report.
Morning forecast shifts heat focus north, with broader weekend concern
The Jackson weather office’s 6:39 a.m. Friday discussion says lower humidity should reduce heat stress in part of its forecast area today, with dangerous levels focused north of Interstate 20. That is the useful change in this morning’s outlook: continued high temperatures, but a more concentrated area of concern before moisture increases again.
Its forecast table lists Friday highs of 96 degrees in Jackson and Vicksburg, 97 in Meridian, 95 in Hattiesburg and 99 in Greenville and Greenwood. Saturday’s forecast reaches 100 in Greenville and Greenwood. These are air temperatures, not heat-index readings.
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Forecasters expect dangerous heat stress to broaden across the Jackson forecast area this weekend and continue into early next week. The office had no Mississippi watches, warnings or advisories listed in that bulletin. Read the Friday forecast discussion.
Separately, the Memphis office’s existing heat advisory covers 22 north Mississippi counties and remains valid through 8 p.m. Saturday, September 19. It forecasts heat-index values up to 106 degrees. The expiration has not changed since the previous briefing. The current advisory text lists the counties and urges fluids, air conditioning and checks on relatives and neighbors.
Governor reports record August payroll employment
Governor Tate Reeves’ office announced Friday that Mississippi’s total nonfarm employment reached 1,199,800 jobs in August, which it described as a record. The same release put the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 3.4%, the lowest since September 2024.
Those figures describe August employment conditions. They are separate from the future jobs attached to this week’s announced industrial expansion in Copiah County. Keeping those measures apart is important: an announced hiring commitment is not a count of workers already on payroll.
The September 18 release provides the administration’s figures and assessment. The statewide totals do not establish that every county or industry experienced the same trend.
Agricultural-event absences still require school approval
Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson has issued an order identifying certain agricultural educational events as opportunities of substantial merit for students, according to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
The department says the order is intended to support 4-H and FFA participation in agricultural, livestock, horse and related educational events. Qualifying absences may be considered excused, but school administrators must approve them. Families should therefore treat the announcement as a basis for a request, rather than automatic permission to miss class.
MDAC’s official announcement directs families to the order and a sample absence-request letter. Before making attendance plans, parents can ask their school which documentation it needs and how to submit the request. Our agricultural education report explains the announcement. This briefing does not establish eligibility for an individual student or event.
Olive Branch Public Works is now behind the police department
Residents heading to Olive Branch’s Public Works office should use its new location at 10460 Highway 178, behind the Olive Branch Police Department. The city says the move took effect Thursday, September 17.
The notice identifies the office’s new address and location; it does not announce a change in office hours or provide a replacement department phone number. For an in-person visit, the new address is the key practical update. The move is separate from the emergency communications phone outage covered in Thursday evening’s briefing.
Meridian open house points adults toward free skills classes
A Thursday community open house at the Ralph E. Young, Jr. Center for Adult Education highlighted programs available through Meridian Community College, according to the City of Meridian. The event introduced students, families and other residents to services associated with Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
The free adult education program supports basic skills, high school equivalency preparation, workforce readiness and transitions to further education. It also offers reading, writing and math refreshers for people who already have a high school diploma, the city says.
Free instruction should not be confused with a promise that every examination is free. MCC’s exam-registration page lists testing fees and eligibility conditions. It gives the Ralph Young Center’s contact number as 601-484-8796 and its address as 5501 Highway 80 West. Prospective students can ask about the appropriate class and testing pathway. Read our open-house report and the city’s account.
Virtual storm-spotter class is September 24
The NWS Memphis training calendar lists its next virtual SKYWARN class for Thursday, September 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is required, and the class is free and open to the public.
The exact calendar date matters because a recently published announcement described the session only as a week away. The official training schedule supplies the registration link and also lists an October 5 virtual option. Classes may be postponed or canceled because of hazardous weather.
Training covers thunderstorm characteristics, relevant cloud formations, effective reporting and basic safety. NWS recommends taking a course at least every two years to refresh those skills. Its program overview explains how observations from volunteers help forecasters assess dangerous weather.
Featured graphic: National Weather Service Memphis; Friday ozone outlook updated September 17, 2026, at 8:01 p.m.
