BROOKHAVEN — There is a marginal risk of severe storms Saturday afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service forecast warns of the minimal threat after severe weather and gusty winds knocked out power to customers Tuesday and Wednesday.

Winds have calmed down, the sky is blue and there is sunshine Thursday morning. Temperatures are forecast to reach 64 degrees Thursday before falling to 43 degrees Thursday night. Friday’s high is 75 degrees with partly sunny conditions. Winds will be calm but gusts could reach 25 mph as the day goes on.

Rain will enter the forecast Saturday with an 80 percent chance of precipitation. There is potential for thunderstorms with isolated severe storms possible. NWS Jackson warns hail could reach a quarter size and there is a risk of damaging wind gusts. Timing of these storms would be Saturday afternoon and evening. The Daily Leader will provide updates as the forecasted weather event nears.

Dead pine trees, killed by the drought in 2023 and subsequent pine beetle outbreak, are still waiting to fall. Conditions are currently dry enough for these trees to spark wildfires if they fall on a power-line. The Daily Leader reported volunteer firefighters put out a small wildfire Tuesday sparked by a downed tree on a powerline.

Wednesday, Brookhaven Fire Department responded to a grassfire sparked by a tree limb hitting a power line as previously reported by The Daily Leader. Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Reid said there were two wildfire calls in Lincoln County sparked by powerlines Wednesday.

There is a moderate risk of wildfire potential across southwest Mississippi right now.