BROOKHAVEN — The National Weather Service forecasts a chance of rain Thursday and Friday. It is the first real chance of week in over 30 days.

NWS Jackson forecasts a 60 percent chance of rain Thursday with a likely chance of rain showers and a possible thunderstorm after 1 p.m. Last Friday, the forecast was a mere 30 percent chance of rain. Thursday night is forecast to have a 40 percent chance of rain going into Friday where the chance of rain drops to 30 percent.

NWS Jackson currently forecasts 0.22 inches of rain to fall Thursday. If the rain comes it would bump Oct. 2024 out of a tie for the driest October on record. Assuming Brookhaven gets 0.22 inches of rain on the last day of October it would still be the ninth driest October in recorded history and bump Oct. 2023 out of the top 10.

The current streak of consecutive days with no rain is already in the top 10 streaks in recorded history and could place sixth all time if rain does come Thursday.

Chances of rain come at a time where it is needed most. According to the national drought monitor, 100 percent of Lincoln County is considered abnormally dry which is the early stages of drought development. Fuel moisture is dry and humidity has been low which can contribute to fires escaping and getting out of control. Fortunately, calm wind conditions lessened wildfire danger in Lincoln County.

Wind speeds are forecast to start picking up with 5 to 10 mph forecast Tuesday and Wednesday with gusts reaching 20 mph. While Lincoln County is not under a burn ban, residents are asked to not burn until conditions improve.

At the same time, a broad area of low pressure is forecast to likely develop in the southwestern Caribbean Sea as a disturbance. According to the National Hurricane Center there is a 40 percent chance of tropical cyclone formation in the next seven days. A tropical depression could form late this week and over the weekend.

The Daily Leader will continue to monitor weather and weather hazards. Check back for more updates.