Residents in Natchitoches Parish can expect warm and cloudy conditions early in the week before showers and thunderstorms move through the area Wednesday, followed by cooler and drier weather to close out the week.

Cloudy skies will continue Tuesday with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High temperatures are expected to reach around 80 degrees with south winds between 5 and 10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph.

Rain chances increase Wednesday as showers and thunderstorms develop. A chance of rain is expected during the morning before more widespread storms arrive in the afternoon. High temperatures will reach the upper 70s with south winds between 5 and 10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. Rain chances are forecast at about 80 percent.

Showers and storms are likely to continue into Wednesday evening before gradually decreasing overnight. A cooler air mass will move into the region late Wednesday night, dropping temperatures into the upper 40s. Winds will shift to the north and increase to 10 to 15 mph after midnight with gusts up to 30 mph.

Thursday will bring mostly sunny skies and cooler temperatures, with highs in the mid-60s and breezy northeast winds continuing through the day. Clear skies Thursday night will allow temperatures to fall into the lower 40s.

Sunshine will return Friday with highs in the mid-70s, followed by clear skies Friday night and lows around 50 degrees.

A warming trend will continue Saturday with mostly sunny skies and highs around 80. Saturday night will begin clear before becoming partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 50s.

Clouds will increase again Sunday with highs in the lower 80s. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms may develop Sunday evening before another cooler air mass moves into the area, bringing overnight lows into the mid-40s.

By Monday, mostly cloudy skies and much cooler temperatures are expected, with daytime highs around 60 degrees.