The National Weather Service says the area will experience unusually warm weather across Southern Illinois with temperatures soaring into the low 80s today, far above typical late March averages.
The warmth will persist through the weekend, with sunny skies and highs in the low 80s expected on Saturday. Sunday will bring the peak of the heat, as intervals of clouds and sunshine could push temperatures into the mid 80s across the Tri-State area. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible Sunday evening, mainly east of the Mississippi River, as a cold front approaches.
After the front passes, temperatures will drop back to near-normal levels for this time of year, with highs in the upper 50s and low 60s expected from Monday through Wednesday—a notable cooldown from the weekend’s record-challenging warmth.
However, the break from the heat will be brief. Forecasters expect another warming trend late next week, with temperatures once again climbing 10 to 20 degrees above average by Thursday. Another round of showers and thunderstorms is possible toward the end of the week.
Residents are advised to prepare for rapidly changing weather conditions and stay tuned for updates from the National Weather Service.