Severe weather across central Mississippi today was expected to dump a quarter-inch of rain on Vicksburg and Warren County — the first local rainfall of the month — but won’t make burning outdoor trash any safer or affect farming, officials said.

Storms ahead of a weak cold front from the west could produce half-dollar-sized hail, according to the National Weather Service. Showers in Vicksburg should begin to clear by 7 tonight and chances of more rain will drop to 30 percent, with another tenth of an inch possible in heavier thunderstorms. Temperatures in Vicksburg tonight should dip to 53 and winds should calm to between 5 and 10 mph. Wednesday is forecast to be clear and sunny, with a high of 83.

No rain has been recorded in Vicksburg by the Weather Service this month, leaving the rainfall totals 1.21 inches below normal for the month. In September, precipitation reached .28 of an inch, or 2.8 inches off the month’s average.

Afternoon and evening showers will have little or no effect on farm land left dry from the recent drought, said Marcus Davis of the Warren County Extension Service.

Dry ground across much of the state prompted Gov. Haley Barbour last week to declare a state of emergency banning all outdoor burning.

Even if Warren County is pelted with rain today, it won’t be enough to lift the ban locally, said Kelly Worthy, Warren County’s volunteer fire coordinator and environmental officer.

“Unless we get several inches, I don’t think it’ll affect our situation,” Worthy said.

Penalties for burning trash and other flammables can total $500 and include responsibility for any property damage caused by a fire, Worthy said, adding he and Warren County Sheriff’s Department have worked closely on enforcing the ban since it was put into effect.

Grass and brush fires have been reported in several central Mississippi counties in recent weeks, with the strongest in Rankin and Madison. No fires have been attributed to the dry weather in Warren County, though local volunteer forces aided officials in Sharkey County to put out a minimal grass fire in Valley Park Sunday afternoon, Worthy said.