Tracking another stretch of heat and sun

TODAY: Skies will remain cloudy for much of the morning, but clearing is on the way by late morning and early afternoon. For folks near Columbia and eastward, it's looking like the sun won't reappear until the afternoon, which would keep temperatures near 70 for a high today. If that timeline speeds up, we may be looking more at low to mid 70s.

TONIGHT: With clearing skies, temperatures will settle down into the low to mid 50s. Clear skies are expected at sunrise on Saturday.

EXTENDED: Despite blue skies giving way to partly cloudy skies on Saturday, temperatures are expected to warm to near 80 by the afternoon thanks to southwest winds and still plentiful sun. Winds increase into Sunday, with more sunshine in store. This pumps us into the upper 80s on Sunday. We'll have several days flirting with 90s as heat builds early next week. Officially, Sunday through Tuesday are forecast in the upper 80s, but we know how often set ups like these can out warm expectations. We'll be monitoring for updates to the forecast, but 90 or not, it's going to be hot and humid. Chances for rain will increase later into next week as a cold front enters as this hot pattern collapses. Timing has been uncertain with this next round of rain, but it's beginning to look like it may center around the late Tuesday and early Wednesday time frame.