The unseasonable warmth of the past week and change will draw to a close on Wednesday as a cold front approaches the area. We’ll start Wednesday in the mid-70s, warming to the mid-90s in the afternoon. There’s a chance for a storm or two ahead of the front, but it’s conceivable that many of us may not see any rain at all with this frontal passage. If a storm or two can get going, it could turn strong to severe, but the chances are very low.

Expect less in the way of cloud cover on Tuesday as the front that helped focus some shower and thunderstorm activity across the area on Monday meanders north and high pressure builds in aloft with plenty of dry, sinking air to be found. We’ll stay on the toasty side of normal for mid-May, with lows in the low 70s warming to the low-to-mid-90s in the afternoon. Dewpoints aren’t terribly out of control, thankfully, so heat indices won’t be too much of a factor, only running about 2-3° or so above the air temperature. That said, it’s still quite warm for this point in the year — the normal high for May 20 is 84°.

The week ahead starts with a continuation of the abnormally warm temperatures we’ve been feeling for the better part of the past week, though some relief is in sight as a cold front brings cooler and drier air to close out the week and head into Memorial Day Weekend.

Hot weather continues as we head into the weekend with only a slight chance at some thunderstorm-induced relief.

The main weather story for Friday and the weekend will be the unusual midsummer-like heat, especially Friday and Saturday. We may break a record high on Friday — the record high is 94° set in 1941 — as temperatures head into the mid-90s under partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies. Heat indices will peak around 100° or so — not into heat advisory territory but still on the high side for mid-May.

Partly cloudy skies continue into Saturday, though a stalling front could pop a stray storm or two especially further north. Otherwise, expect another quiet and very warm day, with highs in the mid-90s once again expected after a low-70s start. The front meanders around the area on Sunday, keeping partly cloudy skies in the forecast with a stray storm not out of the question. Temperatures should run a touch “cooler” — and by “cooler” I mean around 90° as opposed to 95°.

The 90s stick around well into next week before the next front approaches by mid-week with the next mentionable shower and thunderstorm chances.