BROOKHAVEN — Showers greeted Lincoln County this morning as Election Day is underway. Rain is in the forecast this week just as tropical activity picks up to the south.

According to the National Weather Service, Lincoln County received anywhere from 0.5 inches of rain to 2 inches of rainfall Thursday night last week. More rain could come this week as chances have improved. NWS Jackson reports there is a 50 percent chance of rain Tuesday with showers likely after noon. Gusts could pick up to 20 mph Tuesday.

Wednesday will be mostly cloudy, Thursday will be partly sunny and rain chances will return again Friday with a 20 percent chance of showers. Saturday has a 40 percent chance of showers and Sunday has a 30 percent chance of showers.

Lincoln County needs rain to prevent drought conditions from continuing to develop. Already, a 91 percent of the county is in a moderate drought with nine percent listed to be in abnormally dry conditions. According to the United States Forest Service, Lincoln County needs about five to six inches of rain to get back to normal moisture levels.

Tropical weather is starting to pick up in the Caribbean Sea. National Hurricane Center reports Tropical Storm Rafael has strengthened and could head towards the gulf coast. It is unknown yet if the storm will have any impacts on southwest Mississippi. Current forecasts do show the storm’s cone of impact going up through the Gulf of Mexico and hitting Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama’s gulf coast.

Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to become a strengthen to a hurricane by Wednesday. Rafael will continue to move on a northwest track over the next few days and is projected to reach the Louisiana coast by Sunday morning.

Forecast and projections could change as different weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico interact with this storm.

Check back for additional forecasts and information on tropical storm activity as the 2024 Hurricane Season continues.