Residents across Southern Illinois are enjoying a stretch of warm and dry weather, with the National Weather Service forecasting notably mild conditions through Saturday. Temperatures are expected to soar 10 to 15 degrees above average, making for an unseasonably pleasant end to the work week.
Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies and highs reaching the upper 50s. The mild trend will continue into Friday and Saturday, with mostly sunny conditions and highs climbing into the upper 60s and low 70s across the Ohio Valley region.
However, a shift in the weather pattern is expected by Sunday. An unsettled system will bring a chance of light rain beginning Sunday and continuing into early next week. Temperatures will take a downward turn, with highs dropping to the upper 40s on Sunday and the low 40s on Monday, before rebounding to around 50 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Forecasters are also monitoring the potential for accumulating winter precipitation, particularly along the Interstate 64 corridor and in northern parts of the district. While cold air from the north could mix with the system, current trends suggest a generally warmer and wetter pattern, reducing the likelihood of significant snow or ice. Officials say they will continue to track the situation and provide updates if impactful winter weather becomes more likely.
For now, residents are encouraged to enjoy the sunshine and mild temperatures before cooler, wetter conditions arrive next week.