BROOKHAVEN — It has been 21 days since the last drop of rain fell in Lincoln County. While drought conditions are still classified as abnormally dry, wildfire risk has increased this week.

The National Weather Service advises wildfire danger will continue through Friday with low humidity, dry fuels and steady wind. Extra caution is advised if burning in the open and drivers are asked to secure trailer chains so they do not drag on the roadway, create sparks and start a wildfire. Smokers should dispose of cigarette butts properly and not on the ground as one spark is all it takes.

Wind will blow out of the east for the next several days. Eastern winds are notorious in Mississippi for changing direction and this can lead to fires escaping. Lincoln County’s wildfire risk is at a moderate level according to the United States Forest Service.

Forecasts do not show any rain in sight. According to the National Weather Service, drought development is likely in southwest Mississippi from now until January 31, 2025.

Tropical disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico do not appear like they will stay organized enough to bring any relief or tropical cyclone activity to the United States at this time. The National Hurricane Center forecasts the Chances of Tropical Cyclone formation continues to drop or a disturbance in the mid-atlantic to 30 percent chance in the next seven days while a disturbance near the Yucatan Peninsula remains steady at 20 percent chance of formation in the next 48 hours and seven days.

If Lincoln County does not get rain in the next 12 days then the streak will crack the top 10 of consecutive days of no rainfall. NWS Jackson reports three dates are tied for 10th place with 32 days set in 1906, 1924 and 1930. In 1924, there was 73 consecutive days of no rain which came to an end on Dec. 4.

According to the NWS, five Octobers in recorded history had zero inches of precipitation in Lincoln County. Those years are 1904, 1924, 1952, 1963 and 2005. The 0.24 inches of rain in 2023 placed 10th in driest Octobers in recorded history.