BROOKHAVEN — Much needed rainfall this past weekend was not enough to end drought conditions developing in Lincoln County. According to Drought.gov, 52.4 percent of Mississippi is considered abnormally dry.

It is important to remember abnormally dry is the first stage of a drought. 100 percent of Lincoln, Copiah, Pike, Franklin, Amite, Wilkinson, Adams, Jefferson and Claiborne Counties are considered abnormally dry.

In northMississippi, several counties have developed moderate and severe drought conditions. USDA reports 24.8 percent of Mississippi is considered to be in moderate drought. Additionally, 5.6 percent of the state has entered severe drought.

Last year, Lincoln County reached exceptional drought and it took months for the drought to subside. Moderate drought conditions formed in August and quickly became extreme and severe droughts by September. Exceptional drought conditions began in September and did not end until December. By the end of February, all drought conditions ended in Lincoln County.

National Weather Service in Jackson states there have been 0.49 inches of rainfall measured in August to date. Comparatively, August 2023 ended with 0.07 inches of rain making it the driest August on record. If there is no more recorded rainfall, August 2024 would be the fifth driest August on record. Those records started in 1896.

Long term forecasts are promising that the drought will not persist in Lincoln County but there is no guarantee. Tropical activity could be the answer to bring rain back to Lincoln County. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida does not show any possible tropical disturbances expected in the next seven days.

A wave of Saharan Dust is moving across the tropics which usually causes a suppression of any tropical storms forming.

Check back for more updates on the weather. Share your observations on the drought and weather conditions by emailing news@dailyleader.com.