Record warmth and breezy conditions will occur across the lower Missouri Valley today as a strong system develops to our west. As this feature heads to the northeast tonight, a strong cold front will pass across our region early Friday morning. This will mark the beginning of a rather significant cooldown which will persist into the upcoming weekend with hard freeze conditions expected both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind around 16 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 17 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 28. Blustery, with a northwest wind 13 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind 7 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 56.

Monday Night: A chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday: Showers. High near 54. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.