The National Weather Service reports that warmer-than-normal temperatures will settle into the region starting tonight and continue through Friday night. Both overnight lows and daytime highs are expected to be well above average for this time of year, especially by midweek.
Thunderstorms are likely to develop across the area late tonight into Tuesday. Some storms could become strong enough to produce small hail. As the main weather system shifts eastward, rain and storm chances will mainly affect areas east of the Mississippi River Tuesday afternoon and evening, with a few showers possibly lingering into late Tuesday night.
After a short dry period Wednesday, another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected to move in by Wednesday night and persist through Friday evening. Rain will gradually decrease from west to east late Friday night into Saturday. Rainfall totals of 1.5 to 2.5 inches are forecast for much of the region by Saturday.