Tracking a late-week warm up and a few rain chances

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy and chilly with lows in the low 40s.

TOMORROW: Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with highs in the upper 50s. Showers and a few thunderstorms move in by late afternoon and last through evening.

EXTENDED: The warm front continues to lift north Wednesday into Thursday, with most showers exiting to the north on early Wednesday. Highs will make it to the mid-upper 60s, with an even bigger warm up on Thursday. Near-record highs will be possible in some areas where low 80s are forecast, along with breezy conditions. The associated cold front moves through late Thursday night into Friday, bringing a chance for showers and thunderstorms Friday morning, followed by much cooler air. Temperatures Friday fall from the upper 50s to around 60 in the morning to the upper 40s to low 50s by afternoon. Clouds begin to clear to start the weekend, but its chilly with highs in the low 50s over the weekend. Another shot of cool air moves in early next week as our next storm system arrives Sunday into Monday, bringing yet another round of much-needed rain. Rain amounts for the next 7 days will be between 1" and 1.5". Since October 1, we're about 1.27" below average on rainfall at the Columbia Regional Airport.