A day of rain might change to sleet by tonight when temperatures in Vicksburg are forecast to dip just below freezing.

A winter storm expected to pelt Mississippi’s northern counties with a quarter-inch of ice might bring Vicksburg an inch of precipitation as colder air moves in, according to the National Weather Service. A low of 31 is expected, but no significant local accumulation of snow or ice is in the forecast.

Highs Saturday will be near 36 degrees, dropping to 26 by nightfall with cloudy skies but no rain. Highs on Sunday will climb to 50 degrees, with winds out of the north-northeast. Lows will remain below freezing, around 28 degrees, but with clearer skies.

A winter storm watch was in effect for 14 counties, mainly north of U.S. 82, which crosses the northern third of the state. A flash flood warning was in effect for counties along the Mississippi River from Greenville to the Louisiana line, including Warren County.

The Mississippi River is also rising and is forecast to reach flood stage of 43 feet by Feb. 9.

Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com