Forecast: Clouds leave room for improvement

Halloween forecast tricky, but may be a treat...

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EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Mostly cloudy. Low-to-mid 60s. | Tonight: Partly cloudy. 49-52. | Tomorrow: Sun and clouds. 65-69. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

FORECAST IN DETAIL

We're making progress towards better weather but as our headline indicates, we won't get all the way to the bright skies and warmth that we all yearn for. For the remainder of the work week we'll be substantially drier but we won't be able to break out fully into the clear. As for Halloween, right now it looks like a treat, but a slight change in timing of our next weather-maker could make the forecast very tricky indeed.

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Today (Thursday): We're in the battle zone today as high pressure trying to move south from Canada struggles for control against a weak area of low pressure trying to keep us socked in overcast. I'm calling for a middle-ground solution with a fair amount of clouds but periodically brightening skies. If the low hangs tougher than expected we may see spots of light drizzle or mist (20% chance or less). Highs will likely be in the low-to-mid-60s, though could pop toward the upper 60s with enough brightening. Winds light from the east. Confidence: Medium

Tonight: High pressure will try to strengthen its grip overnight tonight. Expect partly cloudy skies for most with lows within a couple degrees of 50. A breeze from the east will likely diminish to calm toward morning.Confidence: Medium-High

Keep reading to find out if the weather may impact your costume plans...

Tomorrow (Friday): Not much change in the forecast for tomorrow, but skies may be a tad brighter than today. Looks like we'll again go from mostly to partly cloudy during the course of the day, possibly back to mostly cloudy by evening. A slight chance for drizzle remains but this time it's even more of an outside shot. Should be a fairly pleasant day overall. Expect highs in the upper 60s with winds becoming more from the south at 5-10 mph. Confidence: Medium

Tomorrow Night: Clouds again look to take control of our skies. We should remain free of rain though as the bulk of the moisture associated with an approaching cold front should stay north and west, trapped by the highlands. Overnight lows will range in the mid-50s with southerly winds at 5-10 mph. Confidence: Medium

A LOOK AHEAD

Halloween sees warmth return to our area as a warm front passes through on its way northeastward. The way it looks now, showers will be the exception (30% chance) rather than the rule with sun at times (but stay tuned as this forecast is still evolving). Southerly breezes should boost highs into the mid-70s. Confidence: Medium

Now for the forecast you've all been waiting for: As of now, Halloween evening looks to remain mostly dry (30% chance of showers) during trick-or-treating hours, though a slight change in the timing of a cold front could change this. The real hard partiers have a better chance of having to dodge raindrops late at night (shower chances increase to 60% after midnight). Temperatures stay mild, slowly falling through the 60s into the upper 50s. Confidence: Medium

Sunday should be a good day to sit in and divvy up the candy stash, especially during the morning. Showers are likely (60% chance) in the morning but may diminish during the afternoon. Most of the day should be spent in the low-to-mid 60s. Confidence: Low-Medium