BROOKHAVEN – Lincoln County did not get as much rain as forecast from Hurricane Francine, but it go a couple of inches and enough to get most of Lincoln County out of a drought. Across Mississippi and the US, drought conditions improved.

About 38.34 percent of Lincoln County remains abnormally dry. The area is mostly west of I-55. NWS Jackson shows the dry areas will likely improve before the end of fall in a long term forecast.

Wildfire risk continues to be at low in Mississippi with the Keetch-Byram Drought Index measuring between 300 to 400 in soil moisture which is usually associated with early growing season conditions in the spring. About three to four inches of rain would be needed to saturate the soil to normal levels.

Grass and wildfire calls have dropped off in the past two weeks for Lincoln County Volunteer Fire Departments. People should continue to be cautious while burning, check weather conditions before and during a burn, maintain a fire break, and keep a water source on hand to keep fire under control. Trailer chains should be secured as they can produce sparks while dragging along the roadway. One spark is all it takes to start a fire.

Mississippi’s normal wildfire season is from October to April.

The Daily Leader is monitoring a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea which has a 40 percent chance of producing a tropical cyclone in the next seven days.