After a brief &#8220cool front” for this area, the mercury is expected to once again rise to 100 degrees or higher in coming days, said Mike Edmonston, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson.

&#8220We’re not out of the realm,” he said. &#8220Over the next three days, we could see it tie or break records.”

Today’s high could reach 101 degrees, which would tie with a record set in 1980. Tuesday’s peak of 98 degrees was more in line with what’s normal for the area at this time of year. That temperature followed several days of &#8220normal” temperatures, none of which topped 100.

For the rest of this week, temperatures will continue to be above normal, but will cool again through the weekend and bring an expected high of 93 on Monday.

&#8220Today and tomorrow will be your hottest days,” Edmonston said this morning.

Thursday is expected to bring temperatures that could reach 100 degrees, but feel like 116. Friday’s high could lower to 97 with a heat index of 108. The weekend is forecast to see highs that could reach 96 degrees.

&#8220We expect it to break down Friday and temperatures to drop to the upper 90s or mid-90s by the weekend,” Edmonston said.

A 20 to 30 percent chance of rain forecast for the weekend could also help cool temperatures. The fact that Vicksburg has been so dry is a definite factor in the high temperatures, Edmonston said. So far this month, .41 inches of rainfall has been recorded in the area. About 4.53 inches is normal.

&#8220The dryer you are, the dryer the swells, and it’s easier to warm up,” Edmonston said. &#8220Because it has been dryer, that’s one reason we’ve been getting above-normal heat – combined with the high pressure.”

A heat advisory is issued within 12 hours of the onset of a heat index of at least 105 degrees but less than 115 degrees for less than three hours per day. Another condition is that overnight lows remain above 80 degrees for two consecutive days.

Administrators and coaches in the 9,200-Vicksburg Warren School District will keep a close watch on temperatures to make decisions as they relate to outdoor activities, Superintendent Dr. James Price said this morning.

They &#8220will get together on a building level to make a decision. Different places have different needs,” he said. &#8220Last week we met so that everyone understood the urgency. They know what to do now.”

Price put a ban on outdoor activities – except for nighttime football practice – Aug. 10, when temperatures reached 100 degrees. His decision came the day after two Warren Central High School band students were taken to River Region Medical Center for heat-related symptoms. The following week, he and school administrators limited outdoor activities. Porters Chapel Academy and Vicksburg Catholic School also limited activities due to heat, which they will continue to monitor throughout this week.

Michelle Townsend, principal of St. Aloysius High School, said the students have been allowed to drink Gatorade and water during class to keep hydrated. Outdoor sports practices are also being conducted in intervals and as much in the shade as possible, she said. At St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, recesses have been cut down to keep students safe from the extreme heat.

All local schools are air-conditioned.

&#8220The heat is awful, but the coaches are telling me how wonderful the practices are going,” Townsend said. &#8220We don’t see any problems.”

Taking precautions – especially drinking lots of fluids – is the only way to beat the heat.

Dr. Bill Johnston, a physician at Mission Primary Care, said he has already treated patients for heat-related symptoms due to the increase in heat.

&#8220You end up seeing a decrease in the amount of sweat – mainly because people don’t take the necessary precautions,” he said. &#8220In extreme cases of heat exposure, people can get confused, lethargic. And, in some cases, people can suffer from heat stroke, which actually can give damage to the heart, kidneys and brain.”