Tracking a mild and sunny day ahead of greater heat, humidity, and storm chances this weekend

TODAY: Thursday is sunny and mild, the last of these days in the near-term forecast. Mostly sunny skies and south winds raise temperatures from the 40s this morning, into the 70s this afternoon. Clouds increase this afternoon, as showers die to our west. A few light showers near Hwy 65 are possible.

TONIGHT: Clouds increase tonight. Showers and storms are expected to develop after midnight, mostly north of I-70. How these storms move after initiation is somewhat uncertain, but the general expectation is for them to push southeast into the early morning hours. This may make a wet and thunderous commute hour in the eastern half of the region.

EXTENDED: The weekend brings a more muggy and stormy pattern. Friday will be mostly dry, with partly cloudy skies and highs in the 80s. Scattered showers and storms are possible Saturday morning, before some afternoon dry time. Highs are forecast in the 80s again on Saturday afternoon. More storms are possible Saturday night. Sunday stands to be the warmest, as the front that drives storm chances is expected to lift north. This should make Sunday even warmer, giving us a chance at 90°. This is as close as we expect to get to record warmth. The record for Sunday to beat is 91°. Each chance for storms brings a chance for isolated strong storms, but the best chances will be Monday and Tuesday, when storms are more widespread and have greater support aloft.