Staying warm and hazy ahead of subtle pattern changes

Skies were extremely hazy Wednesday as thick smoke tracked through our atmosphere. Expect that to stick around for one more day before subtle changes in our weather pattern arrive by the weekend. 

Thursday will be dry from start to finish, though the warming trend continues as afternoon highs end up in the mid to upper 80s. Thankfully, humidity stays reasonable, so those who have outdoor plans won't have to worry about muggy conditions.

Moisture streaming northward out ahead of what is now tropical storm Francine will allow cloud cover to increase locally overnight. Some of this cloud cover will stick around for our Friday, leaving us with partly cloudy with highs in the low 80s. 

With a blocking pattern setting up aloft, the remnants of Francine and the moisture associated with it will have a hard time pressing northward. Scattered showers may be possible over the weekend, with the highest coverage arriving Sunday as the remnant low is closest. However, the lack of atmospheric forcing and moisture will keep shower coverage very limited compared to areas in southern Illinois.