JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) -Monday was officially the warmest day of the year so far: 89 degrees at Jackson International, 90 at Hawkins Field, and Vicksburg topped out at 91.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain possible across Central Mississippi through the rest of the week and into the weekend. Today will feature a typical summertime “hit-or-miss” storm pattern, with many areas staying dry at times before storms become more widespread tonight. A few storms could become strong, especially across western areas, producing gusty winds and small hail.

Temperatures this afternoon will rise into the upper 80s and lower 90s, with heat index values reaching the mid 90s. Behind the front, slightly cooler and less humid conditions are expected, with highs returning to the low and mid 80s. While widespread severe weather is not expected, a few stronger storms could still produce gusty winds and small hail at times.

Rainfall totals over the next seven days are expected to range between 2 and 5 inches across much of the area. While this rainfall will help ongoing drought conditions across parts of the Southeast, periods of heavy rain could also lead to localized flash flooding concerns, especially in areas that see repeated rounds of storms.

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