4 things to know about the weather:
- Feeling more like May Wednesday
- Rain Thursday PM
- Friday: Gusts up to 50 mph
- Dry for the weekend
Wednesday will be the nicest, warmest day we're going to get for a long while as rain chances return Thursday and next week is looking cooler all the time.
Highs in the low to mid-70s on Wednesday would be average for the middle of May. Sunny skies Wednesday morning will turn a bit more cloudy as we get later into the afternoon.
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Most of the next 24 hours will be dry, but rain chances increase quickly by early Thursday afternoon and a period of moderate rain is likely for the afternoon commute. A few rumbles of thunder are possible but severe storms are unlikely.
How much rain we get is still a bit undecided among all the forecast models. Some yield only 1/4 inches while others show over an inch. The I-81 corridor will get the least rain, closer to the 1/4 inches side. The chances for a burst of rain leading to a full inch of rain are along and east of the I-95 corridor with the heaviest rain coming between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Temperatures ahead of the rain's arrival will get close to 70° Thursday. Strong winds from the northwest will come in behind the rain.
After rain, expect a cooldown into the dry weekend
Skies will return to mostly sunny conditions on Friday but daytime highs will remain in the mid-50s as northwest winds gust well above 40 mph.
The good news about the weekend is that it will be dry. Saturday will come with a fair amount of cloud cover and a west wind in the 20-30 mph range. Highs should still get above 60° though it may not feel quite that mild.
Sunday will come with more sunshine and less wind but daytime highs will remain in the 50s. Rain is in the forecast for Monday followed by some very chilly weather late next week.
The cherry blossoms should be fine, but temperatures may drop into the mid-30s by next Thursday and Friday morning just as they approach peak bloom.
Weather radar
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10-day forecast

Quickcast
WEDNESDAY:
Sunny Morning
Increasing Clouds
Warm, Breezy Afternoon
Chance Of Rain: 0%
Wind: Southeast 8-18 mph
HIGHS: 70° - 75°
WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
Mostly Cloudy
Chilly & Dry
Steady Breeze
Chance Of Rain: 0%
Wind: Southeast 5-15 mph
LOWS: 45° - 50°
THURSDAY:
Cloudy, Breezy & Mild
Dry Before Noon
Moderate Rain 2-10PM
Rainfall: 1/2" to 1"
Wind: Southwest 12-24 mph
Chance Of Rain: 80%
HIGHS: 66° - 72°
FRIDAY:
Mostly Sunny
Windy, Much Cooler
Gusts: 40-50 MPH
Wind: Northwest 20-30 mph
Chance Of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 52° - 58°
SATURDAY:
Cloudy Morning
Some Afternoon Sun
Breezy
Wind: Southwest/West 10-25 mph
Chance Of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 60° - 65°
Sunrise 7:13 Sunset 7:19
Average High: 57° Average Low: 39°