Tracking a hot and quiet week ahead

THIS AFTERNOON: Mostly sunny and hot with highs in the mid-80s. A few isolated showers possible near I-44.

TONIGHT: Mostly clear and slightly cooler with lows in the lower 60s.

EXTENDED: We're in for a hot and largely quiet week with a blocking pattern holding strong across the region. Low pressure out to the west can't get too far east thanks to a tropical system that will block movement for much of the week. That will keep southwest flow aloft and thus keeping temperatures warmer than average through the week as highs reach the mid-upper 80s. As that low over the Carolinas slowly tries to work northeast, we could see the easterly progression of the Plains system by the weekend, increasing rain chances by Saturday and Sunday and likely cooler temperatures into the upper 70s.