The mild weather Lincoln County experienced Sunday and Monday is expected to set the stage for severe thunderstorms in the area during the middle days of the week.

“Looks like we will probably not get anything severe today, but maybe some rain,” said Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Clifford Galey.

A powerful storm moving east from the Rocky Mountains will impact parts of the South today, and enhance thunderstorms across portions of eastern Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, reaching into western Mississippi. The majority of the Delta down through Natchez and as far east as Jackson is forecasted to experience heavy gusty thunderstorms later today and into tonight, according to AccuWeather meteorologists, though Lincoln County may not be affected until Wednesday.

Some of today’s storms can become severe, producing damaging wind gusts, hail and flash flooding. The severe weather threat will increase farther east on Wednesday and into the afternoon Thursday as the storm system moves on.

“Very warm and moist air will be lofted northward out of the Gulf of Mexico into southern Louisiana and Mississippi,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Brett Rossio Monday. “There will be potential for severe thunderstorms later in the day on Wednesday across these areas.”

These storms can produce flooding downpours, damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes, Rossio said. Areas to watch for motorists extend across stretches of interstates 55 and 20, among others.

Some areas could receive rainfall of 2 to 4 inches by Thursday, said Rossio.

The National Weather Service in Jackson has forecast an 80 percent chance of rain for Lincoln County today, with winds of 5 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. Rainfall is not expected to be greater than 0.10 inches, though more is possible.

For Wednesday, the chance of precipitation increases to 90 percent, with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Up to 0.75 inches of rainfall is possible. Overnight, the chance of rain falls slightly and an additional 0.25 to 0.5 inches of rain is likely.

Thursday is expected to bring a 70 percent chance of precipitation, with continued winds of 5 mph and 0.25 to 0.5 inches of rain expected before nightfall.

Friday’s forecast calls for sunny and mostly clear skies.