BROOKHAVEN — The National Weather Service in Jackson forecasts beautiful weather to continue Wednesday and into Thursday. Rain chances continue to increase going into the weekend.

Wednesday’s high is expected to get to 86 degrees with a cooling breeze for much of the day. Temperatures will cool off to 63 tonight with a mostly clear sky and a great opportunity to stargaze.

Thursday’s high will reach 88 degrees and temperatures will drop to a low of 67 Thursday night.

Friday should feel a little cooler with a high of 84. Scattered showers are forecast for Friday afternoon with a current 40 percent chance of rain. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are anticipated Saturday and Sunday.

Wildfire risk low

The good news with expected rain is the wildfire risk continues to stay down with higher humidity, low winds and moisture levels being normal for this time of year.

According to last week’s drought monitor map, 38.34 percent of Lincoln County remains under abnormally dry conditions but last week’s late rainfall may have lifted the dry conditions. A new drought map will be released Thursday. Long term outlooks show wetter conditions.

Tropic forecast

A disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico is potentially slowly forming into a storm. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida forecasts the disturbance has a 40 percent chance of tropical cyclone formation in the next seven days. Weather discussion from the center states a tropical depression could form over the weekend. Interests along the US Gulf Coast should continue to monitor this storm.

According to the NHC, a broad trough of low pressure is in the Gulf right now with disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Kirk continues to strengthen as it moves northwestward. Current forecast models show Hurricane Kirk turning to the east towards Europe similar to the path Hurricane Isaac took.

Tropical Depression 13 has formed in the eastern Atlantic to the west of Africa. The storm continues to move westward and strengthen. NHC states the storm could become a hurricane over the weekend. Tropical Depression 13 would be named Leslie once it reaches sustained winds of 38 mph.