LOYD STAR — Slick asphalt and sprinkles of rain greet the residents of Northwest Lincoln County Wednesday morning. Out on Mt. Zion Road, the precipitation must have arrived early this morning and continues to spit rain drops.

National Weather Service in Jackson forecasts 60 percent of Lincoln County to get rain today most likely before 2 p.m. Rainfall will be between a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch. The chance of rain drops to 30 percent tonight.

Thursday will be cloudy until the evening when a 20 percent chance of rain is forecast. Friday will also have a 20 percent chance of rain.

Temperatures will cool down to a high of 69 degrees today and then a low of 55 today. The wind will be between 5 to 15 mph and gusts could reach 25 mph.

Gusty winds will not return until Saturday with 20mph wind gusts expected out of the northwest. The forecast for this weekend is sunny with temperatures in the 70s and lows in the 50s.

No more chances of rain are forecast through Tuesday although conditions could change with each day.

It is important to remember the rain will not be enough to lift the burn ban or drought conditions. Lincoln County and 51 other counties are under burn bans right now. Conditions will remain dry and with gusty winds in the forecast, the risk of fire spreading quickly will be high.

Do not attempt open burning of any kind and delay the use of management practices such as mowing and brush hogging. One spark from a blade hitting a rock or grass getting over heated can be enough to ignite a wildfire.

Violators of the burn ban will receive citations. Anyone who starts a fire is liable for any damage caused when it gets out of control and burns outside of their property.