Tracking a much hotter pattern ahead

TONIGHT: Heat is on the way, but we're cool tonight. Skies will be clear overnight, with high pressure again nearby at the surface. This will set us up for another cool morning in the 50s early Friday.

TOMORROW: Friday will be another mild day, starting in the 50s, and ending in the 80s.

EXTENDED: South winds return on Friday, but won't result in much warming until Saturday. Saturday's highs will range from low 90s to near 100, with highest temperatures coming in the west. Some heat index values in counties like Benton, Pettis, and Saline will approach 100-105, but most of us will feel like upper 90s. On Sunday, that heat becomes widespread with heat index values in the 105-110 window across the region. This has triggered an ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day for Sunday. We'll stay dry through the weekend and into next week. The big story will be heat though, as temperatures look to be staying in the mid-to-upper 90s well into next week.