NATCHEZ — The rain that passed through the Miss-Lou Monday night was just a preview of the severe storms expected to hit the area Thursday afternoon.

National Weather Service Jackson meteorologist Eric Carpenter said a warm front will head to the area Thursday bringing with it strong to severe storms Thursday afternoon and perhaps into the evening.

“We’ll be watching that, there could be a risk for some damaging winds and perhaps a couple of tornadoes,” he said.

Today’s high temperature will be 60, with the low dropping to 35. Wednesday’s high will be 55 and the low 43, with a slight chance of rain.

It will warm back up to 68 Thursday.

“As the next system comes in with the warmer air, that’s when you’ll see the rain and thunderstorms develop,” Carpenter said.

The storm system will clear out of the area Friday, Carpenter said, and the weekend forecast looks dry.