Rain headed for the Mid-South as Helene intensifies before landfall

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT - SATURDAY MORNING FOR ENTIRE MID SOUTH.

Spotty showers are possible as an area of low pressure and its cold front affect Memphis and the Mid-South. It will become cooler tonight. Spotty showers are possible tomorrow. And that area of low pressure will merge with Tropical Storm Helene after it becomes a Cat. 3 hurricane and slams into Florida's Big Bend.

Several inches of rain are on tap for the Memphis area by the end of this week. Key Days:

• As of Thursday, Memphis is:
• 35 days away from Halloween.
• 38 days away from the end of Daylight Saving Time (no "S"). DST ends early Sunday morning, Nov. 3.
• 63 days away from Thanksgiving.
• 91 days away from Christmas.
• Saturday- Launch of Crew-9 Space X rocket to retrieve the two astronauts (including one born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee - Barry "Butch" Eugene Wilmore) from Boeing Starliner. Launch is scheduled for 1:17 p.m. CT
• Saturday - Univ. of Memphis Football's hosts Middle Tennessee Univ. in Memphis, TN. Kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT.
• Saturday - Ole Miss Football hosts Univ. of Kentucky in Oxford, MS. Kick off at 11 a.m. CT.
• Saturday - National Public Lands Day
• Sunday - Gold Star Mothers' Day

Local Weather for Memphis and the Mid-South Thursday Night: Scattered showers and storms from Helene arrive by dawn. Overnight lows in the low 60s. Wind: N 10-15 mph.

Friday: Heaviest rain and highest winds in the morning and early afternoon. Steady light to moderate rain from early afternoon through the evening. Temps in the 60s all day. Wind: NW 15-25 mph, Gusts 30 to 50 mph. Total rainfall between 2 and 5 inches. Saturday: Scattered showers, mild. Highs in the low 70s. Sunday: Partly sunny with a slight chance of showers, mild. Highs in the mid 70s. Monday: Mostly sunny, warmer. Highs in the upper 70s. Tuesday: Sunny and warm. Highs near 80 degrees. Wednesday: Sunny and warm. Highs near 80 degrees.