Tracking a big weekend warmup

TODAY: Wednesday kicks off our weekend warm-up despite a bitterly cold start yet again today. This morning, we'll climb out of the 20s and into the low 50s thanks to a breeze turning westerly by this afternoon. Winds will be sustained in the 5-10 mph range, and gust at times as high as 15+ mph. Skies start clear, but become partly to mostly cloudy as a shortwave passes by in the upper levels of the atmosphere. No rain is expected.

TONIGHT: Skies remain cloudy, with winds becoming more southwesterly by morning. Temperatures will start near freezing Thursday morning.

EXTENDED: Thursday brings more sunshine by late morning and afternoon, with which temperatures will climb into the 60s. Winds from the west southwest will be a big part in our warm up, along with a patter change in our upper levels. This change will continue to warm us into the weekend. Winds will pick up speed each day, and remain out of the warm air direction. Expect gusts as high as 20+ mph as soon as Thursday, continuing on Friday, and increasing into the weekend. On Friday, temperatures will climb into the upper 70s, and jump into the 80s by Saturday. The warm air also brings more moisture which will lead to an increasing chance for rain. For now, Saturday looks dry, but the leading edge of better moisture looks to arrive Saturday night. Depending on other features in the atmosphere, this may yield a slim chance for rain Saturday night or Sunday morning. For now, better chances remain later in the day on Sunday, and especially on Monday. Timing is still uncertain, but best chances for rain line up on Monday, and begin to decrease greatly on Tuesday as the system looks to be moving away by Tuesday afternoon. Our temperatures look to trend cooler into the second half of next week.