Forecast Last Updated at Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 5:43PM

Evening Thunder, Big Changes

A strong cold front (for late August) moves through tonight prompting a good round of ongoing showers and thunderstorms persisting through this evening. This sets the stage for a remarkable string of days the second half of the work week and this weekend as high pressure takes the helm. A small exception, I have to keep a shower mention going tomorrow in the brisk northwest flow behind the front. Temperatures and humidity levels come way down warranting a light jacket in the mornings Thursday through Saturday. We're talking upper 40s at night for some locales.

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Tuesday Hi: 76 Lo: 62 Mostly cloudy tonight; Scattered showers & storms, mainly before midnight; West wind 5-15 mph, becoming NW & gusty late

Wednesday Hi: 73 Lo: 54 Leftover clouds and isolated daytime showers; Cooler at night; NW wind 10-20 mph and gusty

Thursday Hi: 72 Lo: 52 Sunny skies; Refreshingly delightful & seasonably cool; NW wind 5-15 mph

Friday Hi: 72 Lo: 53 Continued mostly sunny; Splendid

Saturday Hi: 73 Lo: 59 Scattered clouds; Remaining very comfortable

Further Out

Sunday - Afternoon cloud build-ups; Not as cool, still quite nice; High in the mid 70s; Low in the lower 60s
Monday - Partly cloudy; Cannot rule out a PM t-shower; Warmer; High in the upper 70s; Low in the lower 60s

Forecast Discussion

A fair warning- yes we have several "dreamy" late summer days headed our way. However, a sprawling heat ridge develops early next week across much of the U.S. Above average warmth returns Monday or Tuesday and may persist for 10-14 days. Significant rainfall could become a problem during that time as well. This would follow the trend of the last few years in which we had a late summer or early fall dry spell (2 years ago obviously it was more serious than that).

A cold front moves through tonight generating a good round of showers and storms ongoing from this afternoon through evening. And then we're done, essentially. A strong northwest flow tomorrow maintains the threat of a few showers and and a fair amount of cloud cover, but it's a different flavor than what we're used to. More like what we'd experience a month from now with a gusty northwest wind in tow.

Modified Canadian high pressure becomes the dominating force Thursday through Saturday. Temperatures will run a few degrees below average on the top and bottom end of things those days. We're talking nearly perfect!

By Monday, perhaps even Sunday enough heat and humidity return that a few pop-up PM thundershowers are possible.

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