After three days of record-breaking heat, Vicksburg shouldn’t expect a reprieve from the blistering weather today – or anytime soon.

“It looks like it’s going to remain very hot in Vicksburg for the majority of the week; upper 90s and maybe 100 degrees,” said National Weather Service in Jackson Meteorologist Joanne Culin.

Mercury readings Saturday, Sunday and Monday – 101, 102 and 101 degrees, respectively – all broke decades-old heat records. The record high for today is 100 degrees, with the forecast calling for the thermometer to top out at 98.

Allen Karel, River Region Medical Center marketing assistant, said “there’s been a definite increase” in the number of patients being treated for heat exhaustion and dehydration in recent weeks, though numbers were not available.

A 76-year-old Shannon man became the first victim of the statewide heat wave earlier this month. Family members said Jessie Conway Jr. had been working outside and, about 1 p.m., he was found dead outside his home of an apparent heat stroke.

Five community centers in Jackson have been set up as heat shelters from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays for city residents over 55 who need a cool place to beat the heat. Karel said he did not know of any such shelters operating or planned in Vicksburg.

“The majority of patients being treated are those who work outdoors all day. If it’s possible, we recommend people stay inside if it’s above 90 degrees,” Karel said.

Raymond Prescott, owner of Prescott’s Air Conditioning and Heating, is one of those without a choice in the matter. He’s been keeping busy servicing the Vicksburg Warren School District’s air conditioning units in preparation for students who start classes Monday. He was atop of the armory building on Lee Street that Vicksburg High School recently acquired from the city.

“It’s brutal,” said Prescott, whose thermometer read 150 degrees atop the tarred roof. Business, however, is good. “The number of calls we’re getting is unbelievable,” he said. “We’re running from one end of town to the next trying to keep up.”

Prescott said the majority of calls are about sluggish air conditioners, which is most commonly caused by an unkept unit.

“People don’t realize they need to keep their air conditioners clean,” he said. “If you’ve got a dirty air conditioner, it’s like putting a bag over your head. It can’t breathe.”

Crops have had a hard time breathing under the extreme conditions, too.

“When the heat and humidity are as high as they have been, a plant can’t transpire water efficiently and therefore it can’t really cool itself,” said Warren County Extension Director John Coccaro. ”

Vicksburg has received next to no measurable rain in weeks, leaving the area’s soybean crop – some of which was planted late this year due to spring flooding – in limbo.

Vicksburg averages nearly 30 inches of rain by this time of the year; however, just under 21 inches have been recorded, including a sparse 0.45 inches in July. Summer rains are notoriously scattered, so some crops have had periodic showers, while others have had zero moisture for weeks.

“Getting some rainfall in the next two weeks is going to be critical to either the success or failure of many soybean crops,” said Coccaro. “Every dry day that passes is like another nail in the coffin.”

Vicksburg’s best shot at catching a shower comes Thursday, when there’s a 50 percent chance of rain.