Tracking a dry Friday and weekend rain chances

TODAY: Friday is a brighter and drier day after widespread clouds and rain across the region Thursday. We'll be partly cloudy with a high in the mid-70s and a light easterly breeze for much of the day.

TONIGHT: Winds will shift more southeasterly overnight, keeping temperatures near 60. Clouds thicken, leaving us partly cloudy for much of the overnight.

EXTENDED: Saturday, we will see the return of rain chances by midday as a quick moving cold front brings a line of thunderstorms through from late morning to early afternoon. This should leave chances for outdoor time in the morning and evening. A slim chance for isolated strong storms within this line is forecast, with our main concerns being winds and hail. Highs are in the 70s Saturday, but also Sunday, when showers and thunderstorms may make a return near the evening hours, especially in the south. Monday brings back the heat, as we climb temperatures into the 80s ahead of a round of thunderstorms. Some strong storms look possible Monday night, with rain chances lingering overnight into Tuesday. Rain chances and 80s linger in the forecast on Wednesday, until drier and cooler weather puts us in the 70s again by Thursday.