Deitra McKenzie

Meridian

Meteorologist at WTOK-TV (Meridian, MS)

WTOK-TV. Certified Broadcast Meteorologist. I love all things wx! I'm a “Windy City” girl with a “Southern” Soul. #NIU... Opinions are my own💙💙💙💙💙

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Articles

Stay weather aware this weekend. Each day brings a severe risk

3 weeks ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -Let’s start with the fact that your weekend will NOT be a wash-out. Saturday AM looks dry, but hit & miss showers and storms could pop-up during the ‘heat’ of the afternoon. Plus, there’s the potential for an organized cluster of storms to move into our area between 2PM -8PM. It could be steered into our area by the upper-level flow, and the leading edge of this particular cluster (or complex) could bring intense storms.
First Alert: Friday brings the heat and a low Severe risk

3 weeks ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -Summer officially begins on June 20th this year, but it definitely feels like we’re well into the season. The culprit regarding this heat is really the humidity. Dew points are hovering around 70 degrees (which is tropical like)... basically ‘air you can wear.’ So, combining hot temps with high dew points lead to high heat index values. This is the case for Friday as highs will climb into the low-mid 90s... heat index values will range from 98-103.
First Alert: There are low risks for severe weather as we end the week

3 weeks ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -Summer vibes are definitely in full swing. Hot & Humid conditions can be expected the rest of this week with highs around 90 degrees each day, and heat index values will range from the mid 90s to upper 90s each afternoon through Saturday. This type of heat can lead to heat illnesses if you don’t practice heat safety: https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat. There will be some rain relief, but it’ll be more-so hit & miss for Thursday.
Rain chances return to the forecast

3 weeks ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -June started off dry, but rain chances creep back into our forecast starting Wednesday. There will be an upper-level low just east of our area, and it could swing some hit & miss showers our way by Wednesday afternoon. Many will ‘miss’ the rain, but if a shower ‘hits’ your area.... it could bring a brief downpour. Thankfully, severe storms aren’t expected. Highs will hover around 90 degrees, and it may feel a smidge hotter due to the humidity. Thursday will be similar.
Election Day brings good voting weather

3 weeks ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -It’s the first week of June, and it surely feels like it. The rest of the week brings near or above average temps with mid-upper 60s for our AM temps and upper 80s - low 90s for highs. It’ll also be humid, and heat indices in the mid 90s are likely each afternoon. Overall, the weather looks cooperative for Election Day. However, showers start sneaking back into the forecast starting Wednesday. An upper-level disturbance will meander just east of us...
The heat cranks up for the 1st week of June

3 weeks ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -June kicks off ‘Meteorological Summer’ which includes the months of June, July, and August. This first week of the new month will definitely bring summer-like vibes with highs at or above the average each and every day (avg. high is 89 degrees). The mugginess will also return, so it’ll feel a bit hotter than the actual temperature.
The overall weekend looks good, and it’ll be less humid

4 weeks ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -Cheers to the weekend! We’re behind a cold front, and it feels like it. The air is more crisp, and we’ll start our Saturday with comfy/cool 50s. Highs will climb into the mid 80s, but it won’t be muggy. So, Saturday is an ideal day for outdoor plans. Sunday starts comfy with temps ranging from the upper 50s to low 60s. An upper-level disturbance will cross our area during the afternoon, and it’ll bring a low rain chance to our area between 1PM - 6PM.
Umbrella weather continues for Friday

4 weeks ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -More showers are in the forecast Friday due to a cold front that’ll cross the area. Ahead of it, scattered showers & storms are possible between 9AM - 4PM... and there’s a very low chance for a storm or two to reach severe limits (especially for areas south of I-20). The main severe threat will be for damaging wind & hail. Otherwise, the weather improves dramatically once we get behind the cold front.
First Alert: Severe storms are possible tonight

1 month ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -A cluster of storms is moving into our area from the south, and it’ll lead to a stormy evening for our area. As the leading edge of the storms move in, they could pack a punch and reach severe limits. The main threats will be for damaging wind and hail, so have multiple ways of getting severe alerts including our First Alert Weather App: https://www.wtok.com/page/download-our-apps/ . Heavy rain is also possible, so localized flooding will be a concern.
First Alert: We’ve had a lot of rain, and there’s more to come

1 month ago | wtok.com | Deitra McKenzie

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -Meridian has picked up more than 5″ of rain thus far this month, and this is more than our traditional monthly norm of 4.20″. Most of this month’s rain has fallen since the start of Memorial Day Weekend, so our ground is soaked...and needs a break!FIRST ALERT SEVERE RISKYet, more rain is in the forecast for Wednesday. It won’t be a wash-out, but showers & storms are expected by Wednesday evening...mainly after 5PM.