BROOKHAVEN — Confidence continues to build in forecasts calling for dangerous cold temperatures and wintry precipitation early next week. It is hard to believe given the warm sunshine this week. 

The sunshine and warm temperatures will soon turn to rain chances and give way to an arctic blast of dry cold air into Mississippi Sunday. The chance of rain Friday night is 70 percent by the way. Temperatures will get up to a high of 68 Saturday before plummeting to 30 degrees Saturday night. Wind speeds will be between 5 to 10 mph with gusts reaching 20 to 25 mph Saturday.

Sunday will have a high of 41 degrees with wind gusts reaching 25 mph and sustained wind speeds of 5 to 10 mph. The low is forecast to drop to 19 degrees Sunday night. This is when the dangerous cold forecast by the National Weather Service is expected to start. 

Monday temperatures are expected to reach a high of 36 before dropping to a low of 20. Tuesday will be colder with a high of 34 degrees and a low of 20. Temperatures will rebound a little bit Wednesday. 

Starting Sunday, the NWS Jackson Office forecasts wind chills to be in the 20s during the day. 

The National Weather Service’s confidence in wintry precipitation has increased as the expected weather gets closer. However, the NWS forecast does advise the chance of snowfall and how much areas of Mississippi will get will depend on numerous factors. 

Lincoln County and other areas of Mississippi south of I-20 could see a mixed precipitation of sleet, snow, ice and freezing rain. These could cause hazardous traffic conditions and utilities could be impacted. At this time, there is a 30 to 60 percent chance of mixed wintry precipitation Tuesday through Wednesday of next week. 

Readers should know it will be extremely cold and the time to start preparations for the cold is now. Be sure to have layers of clothing if you go outside and be able to take them off to avoid sweating. It is best to wear a hat and gloves and cover your mouth to protect yourself from the cold. Frostbite and hypothermia could be possible with prolonged exposure. 

Check back for more updates on the weather.