Tracking cool air and clear skies for the lunar eclipse tonight

TODAY: Thursday is mostly sunny, but importantly, it also feels much cooler than Wednesday. Highs in the low-to-mid 80s with dew points in the 60s will be a recipe for a very comfortable late summer day. For reference, Wednesday's heat index was in the mid-90s in Columbia, and today will feel more like the mid-80s. Expect a light north breeze around 5-10 mph.

TONIGHT: Skies will be mostly clear tonight, which is important for our partial lunar eclipse. The Earth's shadow will begin to shade the moon with the penumbral eclipse beginning around 8:23 p.m., but the Earth's umbra will cast a more direct shadow beginning about an hour later. The eclipse peaks around 11:12 p.m. For details, read more here.

EXTENDED: Friday is another mild day. In fact, Friday may feel even cooler, with potential for dew points to fall into the 50s with highs in the low 80s. South winds return overnight into Saturday, to return highs to the upper 80s. Dew points are also expected to climb. This continues into Sunday, when we're recording highs in the 90s and heat indexes in the low triple digits. This may last through Wednesday of next week, with mostly dry conditions.