BROOKHAVEN — Low temperatures of 21 degrees and a wind chill of 10 degrees greeted residents in Lincoln County by sunrise this morning. Conditions are dangerously cold this Thursday despite sunshine and blue bird skies.

The National Weather Service issued a cold weather advisory Wednesday and continues to warn of dangerous cold conditions. Wind chill is the biggest factor in the cold. NWS Jackson reports sustained winds for our area this morning have been around 12 mph with gusts reaching 20 to 25 mph.

Under the cold weather advisory, wind chills could drop as low as 3 degrees in portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. The cold weather advisory is in effect from Wednesday to noon Friday. 

According to the advisory, very cold temperatures and low wind chills could lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure. Residents are advised to use caution while traveling outside, be sure to layer appropriate clothing, use gloves and a hat to retain body heat and ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Outdoor animals should have a warm, dry shelter with access to food and unfrozen water. 

Again, the same dangerous cold temperatures and wind chill are forecast to continue through Friday. Unlike parts of Arkansas which saw heavy snowfall, there is no risk of wintry precipitation in the forecast for southwest Mississippi. Temperatures are forecast to warm up over the weekend and return back to normal temperatures by midweek next week. 

Wednesday’s high recorded temperature occurred around 1 a.m. at 53 degrees which was nine degrees cooler than the average high for Feb. 19.  Wednesday’s low temperatures of 25 degrees was 14 degrees cooler than the average low for Feb. 19 but did not crack the top five coldest lows on record.

Check back for more weather updates.