Warming Trend Through the Coming Week.

Despite gusty northerly winds today, the sunshine was still able to produce above normal afternoon temperatures. Those fair skies will continue through the overnight hours and those strong northerly winds will be subsiding with the setting sun which adds up to a clear, cold night tonight. Overnight lows will be generally in the 20s which is back below normal to start the day on Saturday. But, lots of sunshine and a quick return to a S/SW surface wind will result in a big-time warm-up for Saturday with daytime highs reaching the mid to upper 60s. Only real issue will be the lower humidity levels that will accompany the warmer temperatures along with the SW wind up to 20 mph or more which means an enhanced fire danger situation once again.

Sunday will also be much warmer than normal during the day with afternoon temperatures back into the 60s, but the morning low should also be milder with mid 30s expected. More cloud cover is expected by afternoon along with a more E to SE wind for much of the day. Moisture will also be on the increase, particularly late in the day or overnight which could produce a few light showers, mainly for the more eastern counties.

For Monday, another weak frontal boundary will be pushing through the state with winds shifting back to northerly, but this is a Pacific system so not much of a cool-down is expected. In fact, morning temperatures ahead of the boundary should hold us into the 40s or near 50 to start the day and despite a brisk northerly wind, afternoon temperatures will be well into the 60s. A few showers will also be possible first thing in the morning.

A quick return to S/SW winds on Tuesday could result in daytime highs even reaching the lower 70s. By Wed, more cloud cover is expected along with brisk southerly winds. That will result in morning lows near 50 and daytime highs well into the 60s. A slight chance of rain is also possible.

Thursday looks to be a transition day with another cold front pushing through the state with a chance of showers and perhaps even some thunder. It still looks relatively mild though.

Notice the 7 day QPF map on the right which shows that the slight chances of showers over the coming week will be just that, slight chances of rain and relatively light rain when it does occur. Obviously, much wetter conditions will be just east of us.

Beyond that time frame, the trend is back toward another cool-down as the 8-14 guidance also on the right shows. So enjoy the relatively warm, dry conditions while it lasts. Winter is not over just yet.

By the way, for those of you interested in this sort of thing, some enhanced solar activity will make the aurora visible further south than normal and the accompanying map on the right shows it could be as close as northern KS tonight. The fair skies and light winds will make for good viewing opportunities if you want to take the chance it may be visible further south; possibly even into OK. Too many uncertainties to be any more specific than that. Also, don't have a specific time frame, just during the course of the overnight hours tonight.

Dick Faurot