Justin Liles: Stretch of warmer weather coming

A ridge of warm air will spread over the upper middle third of the U.S. and stick around for a while. Drier conditions will continue to deteriorate, and our fires danger will become more critical as the week wears on. Especially for east central Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. The one thing working in our favor now is lighter winds forecasted for the first half of the week. Temperatures will likely climb into the mid to upper 50s and lower 60s trough the first half of the week.

As a large area of low pressure digs over the southern Rockies, a few weak pieces of energy will return by the end of the week and into the weekend. A light shower returns on Thursday and then the air gets cold enough to support a little wintry mix or snow. Winds will pick up by the end of the week too. Temperatures will drop by the end of the week and into the weekend.

TONIGHT
Mostly clear, with a low around 27. South wind around 5 mph.
MONDAY
Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
TUESDAY
Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
WEDNESDAY
Partly sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
THURSDAY
A slight chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
FRIDAY
A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
SATURDAY
A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.