Tracking a test drive of summer ahead of rain and a return to normal this weekend

TODAY: Mostly sunny skies and south winds yield temperatures that are a hair warmer than Monday. Expect highs in the upper 70s.

TONIGHT: Skies remain mostly clear, and winds remain from the south. Temperatures fall to near 50.

EXTENDED: High pressure remains planted to our east, keeping us in southerly flow, with upper level ridging keeping us in this pattern. Sunshine and warmth continue through at least Thursday, with Friday looking warm and partly cloudy. Expect daily highs to climb by a few degrees each day through Friday, with us crossing into the low 80s for highs as soon as Wednesday if we don't hit it today. A very calm forecast, rain chances don't return until Friday where partly cloudy skies may lead to a few showers by the evening. Better chances for rain show up on Saturday when a surface low arrives, bringing chances for scattered showers and storms. With the rain on Saturday, comes a break from our summer like temperatures. The forecast trends dry toward early next week.