BROOKHAVEN — Flashes of lightning, clashes of thunder and the pitter patter of rain greeted Lincoln County residents Wednesday morning. According to the National Weather Service, there is still a 40 percent chance of showers and rain the rest of the day.

According to the National Weather Service, rainfall totals varied across Lincoln County Wednesday morning with some areas receiving little to no rain and portions of the county near the Copiah County line and Wesson received over an inch of rain.

The chance of rain will steadily drop as the continues getting down to a 10 percent chance tonight. Wind speeds are forecast to be sustained at 6 mph heading into the evening. NWS Jackson shows a cold front is moving into the area.

NWS Jackson forecasts wind speeds to increase going into the rest of the week with gusts reaching 25 mph Thursday and 20 mph Friday and Saturday. Any rainfall received Wednesday may be enough to lower wildfire risks. Thursday through Tuesday conditions are forecast to be sunny with highs in the low 80s and lows dropping down to the 60s.

Tropical activity

Hurricane Helene continues to strengthen as it moves north through the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippians do not need to worry about the storm as it is forecast to move through the panhandle of Florida. In fact, forecast models show there will be no weather impact on southwest Mississippi while parts of northern Mississippi might see some additional rainfall. A majority of the severe storms and flash flooding will be in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.

Helene reached hurricane strength Wednesday morning according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. The storm currently has sustained wind speeds of 80 mph and is expected to grow stronger as it nears the Florida coast over the next two days.

At this time, there are no forecasted weather impacts for southwest Mississippi associated with Helene.

Two other tropical disturbances are active in the Atlantic. One disturbance is located in the northern Atlantic and has a low chance of tropical cyclone formation. Another disturbance is located in the Atlantic to the west of Africa with a 50 percent chance of Tropical Cyclone formation in the next 48 hours and 80 percent chance of tropical cyclone formation in the next seven days.