Well, I guess with all this early summer heat and dryness, it begs the question will we see a 100 degree day in the Jackson area this summer? At this point I would say yes! ARGH! Now wait a minute...this is not as easy as you might think. 100 degree days are NOT common place every year here in Mississippi. It depends on several factors. The biggest two are how dry it is and the position of the high pressure system over the southeast. Hot and dry weather browns the grass and bakes the ground. This allows for the ground to absorb more heat from the sun. This helps to increase the high temperature by a couple of degrees. If the high is close enough to Mississippi it keeps clouds to a minimum. MORE BAKING SUNSHINE! This leads to what I call the "brown grass effect". Increasing the high temperature because of local dry conditions. So the way it looks, yes to 100.

Here are some stats.
YEAR 100 degree days
2000 20
2001-04 0
2005 1
2006 6

In the 1990's...1990, 1995, `1998 and 1999 had at least 1 100 degree day.
in the 1980's...1980 (29days), 1981, 1986, 1987 & 1988 had at least 1 100 degree day.

The decade with the most 100 degree days is the 1950s with 82 days.