Summerlike warmth arrives for the weekend
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After a cooler and breezier start to the week, a dramatic warm-up is on the way. Temperatures will climb into the 70s Friday before surging into the 80s this weekend, bringing a very summerlike feel to the region for early October.
Fall colors mixed with summer temperatures
The warm weather will come with a tradeoff, however: Strong southerly winds and very dry conditions will increase fire weather concerns for Saturday and Sunday.
Friday will mark the transition from cooler air to a much warmer pattern developing for the weekend. Temperatures will climb into the 70s Friday afternoon, setting the stage for an even bigger warm-up.
Saturday looks to be the warmest day of the stretch. Temperatures will surge into the mid to possibly upper 80s across southern portions of the state. That kind of warmth is much more typical of July than early October!
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A strengthening low-pressure system moving across the Canadian Prairies will help pull much warmer air northward. It won't just be the temperatures that stand out. South winds will become increasingly gusty, with wind speeds potentially reaching 30 to 40 mph.
The combination of warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds will create near-critical fire weather conditions in parts of the region.
The low-pressure system will continue moving east Sunday, but the warm air will linger. Temperatures should remain well above normal, while breezy conditions continue through at least the afternoon. That means elevated fire weather concerns will likely persist Sunday, even as temperatures begin to trend downward later in the day.
The biggest concern heading into the weekend is not severe thunderstorms or heavy rain, it's the combination of very warm temperatures, dry fuels and strong winds.
