Damp start, little sun later, rain returns for weekend

A mild southerly flow will allow readings to climb into the 50s through the holiday weekend. A series of Pacific disturbances will march east across the country through early next week, bringing rounds of rain to the Ohio Valley.

Morning rain will taper off to some drizzle before noon, with a few breaks of sun possible later this afternoon.

The lull in the rain will end Friday afternoon, as the next in a series of waves tracks from the southern Plains to the Great Lakes. Periods of rain will taper to a few showers Saturday morning, with some dry hours in the afternoon.

Another round of wet weather will arrive Sunday with a wave of low pressure heading up the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. Temperatures will be unseasonably mild through the weekend, with highs in the 50s and morning readings in the 40s, about 20 degrees above normal.

Some sunshine will return briefly on Monday, with mild readings in the low 50s. Another system crossing the country will bring rain on Tuesday. A cold front will sweep behind the storm and usher in seasonably cold and dry weather later next week.

Forecast

• Thursday: Damp a.m., little sun later. High 49
• Friday: Cloudy, rain p.m. High 51 (38)
• Saturday: Sprinkles, milder. High 59 (48)
• Sunday: Gray skies, showers. High 57 (51)
• Monday: Partly sunny. High 52 (42)
• Tuesday: Rain. High 49 (42)
• New Year's Day: Rain/snow showers, windy, cooler. High 39 (36)