Another Warm-up on its Way

Public weather briefing

After a cooler than average weekend, warmer temperatures and mostly sunny skies are due to arrive in the Midwest on Tuesday as a swift southerly wind quickly brings warm air to the region.  Skies will be mostly clear with some fair weather cumulus possible due to daytime heating.  A southerly wind may gust to 25 mph at times and will persist into Wednesday due to a storm system that remains upstream of the warm air.  Some intermittent rain is possible early Thursday morning due to the passage of a storm system to the north, with chances of precipitation increasing to very likely Thursday night.  Following the passage of the system, cooler temperatures will arrive for the weekend, lows in the 50's and high's in the low 70's on Saturday and Sunday.

Forecast 

Tonight. Partly cloudy with wind from the south. Low near 62.

Tuesday. Mostly sunny with swift southerly winds gusting to 25 mph. High around 81.

Tuesday night. Partly cloudy. Low in the lower 60's.

Wednesday. Sunny and warm with persistent southerly winds. High 80. Low around 63.

Thursday. Slight chance of showers in the morning. Continued sunny. High near 81.

Outlook for Friday through Sunday. Storms are likely Friday, rain and rain showers early Saturday, clearing Sunday.  Highs in the mid 70's Friday and low 70's Saturday and Sunday. Lows in the low 50's. [CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM]

Forecast Discussion

A persistent southerly wind associated with the eastern edge of a weak lee-side trough will warm up the Midwest from Tuesday through Thursday.  Lee-side warming on the eastern part of the Rockie Mountains provides warm air that is advected by swift southerly winds, with warm air penetrating as far as the Canadian prairies.  Some cloud cover at night will keep low temperatures in the lower 60's.  During the daytime mostly clear skies are anticipated Tuesday and Wednesday as the low pressure system remains somewhat to the west.  The passage of the low pressure system over northern Wisconsin early on Thursday may cause increasing cloudiness accompanying possible precipitation.  Chances of precipitation are very likely with the passage of the leading edge of the cold front late Thursday night and Friday morning.  Slightly cooler air will follow the frontal passage, with Friday high temperatures in the mid-70's.  Some chance of precipitation remains until early Saturday, with the possible passage of yet another low pressure center.