The National Weather Service says Southern Illinois can expect a stretch of cooler and drier weather heading into the weekend.
A surface cold front moved through the region earlier, bringing in a cooler and less humid airmass. As a result, conditions are expected to remain mostly dry with daytime highs in the upper 60s.
Forecasters say Friday and Saturday will be the coolest days, with temperatures running about 10 degrees below average for this time of year.
The mild pattern is expected to continue through the weekend before a gradual warm-up begins early next week. Temperatures are forecast to return to more typical levels across the Ohio Valley and Mid-Mississippi River Valley, with highs climbing into the 70s and low 80s.
Along with the warming trend, chances for showers and thunderstorms will increase from Monday through Wednesday. Forecasters say they will continue to monitor the potential for scattered storms early next week.