BROOKHAVEN — A slight drizzle and drumming of rain could be heard in downtown Brookhaven Tuesday afternoon. The rainfall is needed to improve dry conditions in Southwest Mississippi.

US Drought Monitor in Lincoln, Nebraska reports Southwest Mississippi is in an exceptional drought. It will take a substantial amount of rainfall to improve conditions before the end of November. National Weather Service in Jackson forecasts the drought conditions to persist into the weather but improving by January.

Showers remain likely after 4p.m. Tuesday. NWS Jackson forecasts 60 percent of the coverage area will get showers today. The percentage jumps up to 80 percent this evening but drops down to 40 percent in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

Rainfall could be between a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch during the day Tuesday and jump to a quarter to a half inch of rain Tuesday night. NWS Jackson reports 0.18 inches of rain fell Monday.

A 40 percent chance of showers and patchy fog is forecast Wednesday. Rain chances drop to 20 percent chance of showers Wednesday night.

Sunshine will return Saturday and Sunday before 30 percent and 40 percent chances of rain Sunday night and Monday.

The dry fall of 2023 is on track to place in the local climate record books in Jackson. Since September 1, there has been 1.7 inches of rainfall which would be the third driest fall on record if November does not get any more rainfall.

Of course the rain today means the fall total could increase. As long as the precipitation total stays below 4.12 inches of rain then the 2023 Fall will place in the top 10 driest falls on record.

Lincoln County and 69 other counties in Mississippi were under a burn ban until Thursday. Governor Tate Reeves issued an announcement that he was lifting the partial statewide burn ban at the request of the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Fire activity has slowed down and the rain in the forecast shows hope of improving conditions. Lincoln County’s burn ban would be lifted unless the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors approves to extend the burn ban at the county level.

Lincoln County does not have any active wildfires right now. Please remember to heed the burn ban and be cautious with management practices such as brush hogging or mowing. Nine out of 10 wildfires are started by humans and preventable. Only you can prevent wildfires.