BROOKHAVEN — The National Weather Service forecasts strong winds for the area Wednesday which could pose some related risks. These northerly winds coincide with a cold front and potential for a frost in parts of central Mississippi.

National Weather Service states the area at risk of frost could expand to reach areas south of Jackson. At this time, the frost threat is limited to areas north east of Jackson.

Strong winds are in the forecast for Lincoln County Wednesday. Sustained wind speeds could reach 20 to 25 mph with gusts reaching 30 to 40 mph. The strong winds could cause weakened or dead trees to fall and limbs to break off.

This is especially a concern for trees near power lines as a downed line could spark a wildfire. Lincoln County Volunteer Firefighters were dispatched to a downed power line Monday but fortunately a fire was unable to start in the conditions.

It is possible the 1 to 4 inches of rain portions of Lincoln County saw Monday night was enough to lessen the risk of wildfires. Wildland Fire Assessment System warns the Fire Danger rating for Wednesday is moderate for the area although this could be due to winds and relative humidity conditions as well.

NWS Jackson warns high profile vehicles could become unstable in the windy conditions.

A new drought map will be released Thursday by the United States Drought Monitor. As of last Thursday, 47.58 percent of Lincoln County was considered abnormally dry, the initial stage of drought development, and 52.42 percent of the county was in moderate drought.

Check back for more updates on the weather.