Santa Claus will need his raincoat but nothing heavier, as showers coupled with moderate temperatures usher in the holiday weekend, the National Weather Service says.

Following thunderstorms Thursday morning that dumped about an inch and a half of rain in Vicksburg in about two hours, as recorded at the city’s water treatment plant on Rifle Range Road, today and tonight are expected to be mostly cloudy, with a high near 53 and a low around 40. Slight winds will be from the north-northeast, between 5 and 10 mph.

The Christmas Eve forecast calls for more clouds and a 30 percent chance of rain after noon, with a high in the mid-50s and a slight wind. A quarter to a half-inch of rain is possible.

More rain is likely as Santa makes his rounds after midnight, with a low around 42. New rainfall amounts are expected from a half inch to three-quarters of an inch, the NWS predicts.

Thursday’s ground-soaking rain was blamed for a tree that fell on a Warren County house in the 1200 block of Stenson Road about 4 p.m.

Kelly Worthy, coordinator of the county’s volunteer fire departments, said the tree pulled electrical wires from the home and a gas leak was reported, but service was promptly disconnected.

No injuries were reported. The home had structural damage but the tree landed on it without falling through, he said.

Warren County was among many Central Mississippi counties under a tornado watch from around 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., said meteorologist Jim Fairly, of the NWS Jackson office.

Showers will dampen activities and slow travel Christmas Day. About a 40 percent chance of showers is predicted, mainly before noon. Skies will remain mostly cloudy throughout the day, with a high of 54 falling to a low of 33 Sunday night and north-northwest winds between 5 and 10 mph.

Sunny skies will resume Monday with temperatures in the high 50s, falling to a low around 35.

Average temperatures for Vicksburg in late December hover around 50 degrees. About 4 1/2 inches of rain have fallen this month, about normal for Dec. 23. About 57 inches of rain has been recorded year-to-date, about 6 inches more than the historical average.