Memphis is waking up to light rain, sticky air, and low clouds on Friday, May 29, with temperatures stuck in the mid 70s for a soggy start. Showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected to ramp up through the day, pushing the high to around 83°F. Some of those slow-moving storms could dump heavy rain and trigger localized flash flooding in poor-drainage spots.
Afternoon Storms Likely
The main show arrives early to mid-afternoon. Forecasters expect the highest odds for showers and thunderstorms between about 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., with coverage peaking in the mid-afternoon. The rain chance sits near 80% this afternoon, and many neighborhoods could pick up about a tenth to a quarter of an inch of new rainfall. Storms will be sluggish movers and capable of brief, heavy downpours that cause nuisance flooding in low-lying areas, according to the National Weather Service Memphis.
Fog And The Morning Commute
Before sunrise, patchy fog will be an extra headache in the usual trouble spots, especially in low-lying neighborhoods and along the Mississippi River. A few locations could briefly drop to around a quarter-mile visibility. Drive with caution, use low beams, and allow extra travel time. Standing water and slick pavement are the main hazards. Local coverage has been hammering the same unsettled, wet pattern, with forecasters flagging the risk of repeated afternoon storms through the weekend, per Action News 5.
Looking Ahead
The overall pattern should start to relax next week as a cold front slides through, bringing drier, more pleasant afternoons as early as Tuesday and near-normal highs in the mid 80s, according to the National Weather Service Memphis. Sporadic 20–40% chances for brief afternoon showers may hang on into early next week, but the widespread wet weather is expected to back off by midweek. If you have outdoor plans after Monday, keep an eye on updated forecasts, since the window for drier weather looks better then.
