Tracking above average October temperatures

October means fall weather right?  Not yet .It’s gonna be sunny and 73 we’re closer to 80° tomorrow light winds high pressure in charge bold sunshine, very dry conditions and good for getting outdoors. Just make sure you got a jacket in the morning and bring it home at night cause we’ll be warming up day by day.

Temps will be above seasonal averages and possibly record setting for parts of the state especially in the west.  No chances of showers with moisture Monday of next week and that seems scarce .  

October means fall weather, right?

Not yet.

The calendar says October, but Mother Nature is giving us a pretty convincing argument that summer isn't finished.

TODAY — THURSDAY:
We'll start chilly with a morning low around 42°, but sunshine takes over quickly. High near 73°, with southwest winds around 5 to 10 mph and essentially a 0% chance of rain.

It's a great day for getting outside — walking the greenbelt, knocking out some yard work, grabbing lunch outside or taking advantage of one of those last really comfortable fall afternoons.

TONIGHT: Clear and cool, dropping back into the lower 40s.

FRIDAY:
Another beautiful one. Morning low around 43°, afternoon high near 77°, with light winds and 0% rain chances.

This is the kind of October afternoon where the jacket you wore out the door ends up riding shotgun in the car. Sunny skies and dry air make it feel more like late summer than the first week of October.

SATURDAY:
For the weekend, we're looking at a chilly start near 44°, warming to around 78° under mostly sunny skies. Winds stay light, generally 5 to 10 mph, and rain chances remain near zero.

YOUR WEEKEND PLANS: This is a great setup for football, fall festivals, a hike, a scenic drive or getting into the mountains to see some of the changing color. Just remember: the mountains won't feel as warm as the valley, and once the sun goes down, temperatures fall quickly.

SUNDAY:
We're turning the thermostat up another notch. Morning low around 45°, high near 80°, with mostly sunny skies, light winds and 0% rain chances.

If you're looking for a day to squeeze in that last round of outdoor projects, take the motorcycle out, go fishing or spend some time on the trails — Sunday may be the pick of the weekend.

MONDAY:
The warm stretch continues. Low around 46°, high near 80°, with mostly sunny skies and light winds. Rain chances remain very low, around 10% or less.

There could be a little more moisture trying to sneak into the picture, but we're not talking about a widespread soaking. For most of us, the bigger story remains warm, dry weather.

TUESDAY:
Still unusually warm for October. Morning low around 45°, high near 79°, with partly to mostly sunny skies, light winds and only a slight chance of a shower — around 10%.

The afternoon should still be very comfortable for outdoor plans, but this is where we'll start watching that small increase in moisture.

WEDNESDAY:
We're still hanging onto the warmth with a morning low near 44° and an afternoon high around 77°. Expect a mix of sunshine and a few clouds, with winds generally light and a 10 to 20% chance of a shower as we watch the next disturbance.

So here's the seven-day temperature story:

Thursday: 73°
Friday: 77°
Saturday: 78°
Sunday: 80°
Monday: 80°
Tuesday: 79°
Wednesday: 77°

That's a remarkably warm stretch for the first week of October — roughly 8 to 13 degrees above typical afternoon temperatures on several days.

And that's why this is worth emphasizing: October doesn't necessarily mean cold weather right away. High pressure is keeping the storm track away, sunshine is plentiful and moisture is scarce.

For the outdoor crowd, this is a gift. Leaf-peeping, hiking, camping, golf, football, yard work, fall festivals and weekend drives all get a boost from this kind of weather.

But don't let an afternoon near 80 fool you into thinking summer has completely returned.

The mornings are still October.

You may leave home in the 40s wearing a jacket and come home in the upper 70s wondering why you brought it. And if you're staying out after sunset, you'll definitely want those layers back.

The other thing we're watching is moisture. Right now, Monday and Tuesday offer only a small opportunity for a few showers, and even that moisture looks limited. There is no major storm system poised to flip us suddenly into winter-like weather.

So yes, it's October.

But for the next seven days, the forecast is saying: enjoy the bonus summer.

Jeff Roper, First Alert Weather