Bad weather this morning was trying for shoppers, motorists and school kids nearing their holiday break, but the good news is that, except for Saturday, conditions should stabilize through Christmas.

About an inch of rain was recorded in the Vicksburg area between 6 and 9 a.m., said Jim Fairly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. Wet streets and brisk winds caught drivers off guard, which Michael Gaul, interim director of the 911 Dispatch Center, said brought at least six wrecks being reported between 6 and 10.

“Anytime we get this kind of weather, it’s typical,” Gaul said. Usually we “have at least two or three wrecks anytime there’s standing water.” He said no injuries were reported.

Fairly said the rain and clouds would clear in the afternoon and evening. “We probably won’t get too much more today — next good chance of rain will come on Saturday,” he said. “We should get anywhere from half to three-quarters of an inch on Saturday, and that should be it.”

Tonight’s forecast is for fog, mainly after midnight. The low will be around 49.

Shoppers hitting the stores to grab last-minute gifts can expect clouds early on Friday, then mostly sunny skies with a high of 71. Friday night will be cloudy with a low around 51. Saturday’s high will again climb to near 70 with winds around 15 mph. Temperatures will drop Sunday, with a high of 56 expected.

On Christmas Eve, another chance of rain is expected with highs near 50 and lows near freezing. On Christmas Day, mostly sunny skies are expected with a high of 53.

“Christmas is looking pretty dry right now,” but “toward the evening it looks like there’s some more chances of rain,” Fairly said.

Statewide, Mississippi is ending one of the driest years on record. Even with this morning’s rain, “this month to date we’re 2.25 inches behind and for the year to date, we’re 24.77 inches behind,” Fairly said.

Vicksburg’s rainfall totals are below average for the year, but not nearly as far as the state average.