Tracking a sunny afternoon with warmer temperatures by mid-week

TODAY: Monday is a sunny day, but somewhat hazy skies will be present thanks to wildfire smoke in our skies. This may have a very small cooling impact but highs still reach the upper 70s and low 80s this afternoon.

TONIGHT: Skies stay clear, and winds remain light. Temperatures will once again fall into the 40s and 50s.

EXTENDED: High pressure overhead has kept us cool, but will slide east, pulling in more wind from the south into our region. This will help climb afternoon temperatures into the mid-80s Tuesday through Thursday. Sunshine will be dominant in the forecast through Wednesday, but what is currently Potential Tropical Cyclone Six, in the Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to travel into the mid-Mississippi River valley on Thursday, increasing our cloud cover by the late morning. This will help keep temperatures cooler, likely in the 70s to low 80s Thursday afternoon. Some may see rain, with the best chances near I-44 on Friday. High temperatures are likely in the 70s Friday, with at least mostly cloudy skies, if not overcast with showers. The track of the low will largely influence the forecast with our region right on the western periphery of the low's forecast path. This will for now keep rain chances low.