BROOKHAVEN —Lincoln County is at 26 days of no rainfall by the end of today it will be 27 days of no rainfall. Conditions could likely reach the top 10 of consecutive dry streaks.

According to the National Weather Service in Jackson, there is no chance of rain through Monday. If no rain falls from now through Monday, the consecutive day streak of no rain would be at 33 days and tie for seventh place with a streak ending on Oct. 7 in 2004. The record streak of consecutive dry days is 73 which ended on Dec. 4, 1924. 

NWS Jackson’s record book shows five Octobers have recorded 0 inches of rainfall in 2005, 1963, 1952, 1924 and 1904. Oct. 2023 recorded .24 inches of rainfall to place 10th in the list of driest Octobers in recorded history. 

Drought conditions are already forming in Lincoln County. The United States Drought Monitor reports 98.3 percent of Lincoln County is under abnormally dry conditions, the first stage of drought development. A new map of drought conditions will be released Thursday. 

NWS long range forecasts predicted drought conditions would continue to develop across Mississippi for the fall season. It should be noted that drought and wetter conditions have historically occurred in a cyclical pattern in Lincoln County according to drought.gov. 

With no rain in the forecast, wildfire conditions are still a danger in Lincoln County. NWS Jackson warns dry fuels and low relative humidity could allow for fires to get out of control quickly. 

Open burning of any kind is strongly discouraged. People should secure trailer chains before traveling down roadways and dispose of cigarette butts properly and not on the ground. One spark is all it takes to start a wildfire. Nine out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans and thus preventable. 

Franklin, Pike, Lawrence, Amite, Walthall, Adams, Wilkinson, Simpson and Jeff Davis Counties are under a burn ban. Lincoln County is not under a burn ban but officials are asking people again to please refrain from burning at this time.