Tracking gusty winds and mild temperatures Friday

TONIGHT: Mostly clear and cool with lows in the upper 30s.

TOMORROW: Mostly sunny, windy, and warm with highs in the lower to mid-70s. An elevated fire risk is expected with low humidity throughout the day.

EXTENDED: A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Friday afternoon for areas north of I-70 as gusty winds and low humidity create elevated fire danger across the Midwest. An Arctic front moves southward through the area early on Saturday, allowing for a few showers early in the day and a wide ranging temperature gradient with chilly highs north and mild temperatures south near I-44. A more significant low pressure system is expected to arrive between late Sunday afternoon and evening and continue into Monday morning. While ground temperatures will initially be above freezing, heavy precipitation rates are expected to allow for accumulation on all surfaces. The most likely zone for winter impacts will be along the I-70 corridor and points north, where sleet and snow could bring a few inches of accumulation. Farther south, conditions will be a bit more uncertain due to slightly warmer temperatures. A mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow are possible in these areas, with a few hundredths of an inch of ice are possible. Precipitation is expected to exit by or before dawn Monday, but there may still be some slick spots for the morning commute. Temperatures start off cool early next week, but gradually warm along with increasing rain chances through much of next week.