Residents in Natchitoches Parish can expect a stretch of warm and mostly dry weather through the end of the week before rain chances begin returning late Sunday into Monday.

Sunny skies are expected Wednesday with afternoon highs reaching the upper 80s. Winds will remain light and variable before shifting to the north around 5 mph during the afternoon hours. Clear conditions Wednesday night will allow temperatures to fall into the lower 60s.

Thursday will bring mostly sunny skies and warmer temperatures, with highs climbing to around 90 degrees. Overnight lows Thursday night are expected to settle into the upper 60s under partly cloudy skies.

The warm pattern continues Friday with mostly sunny conditions and highs again near 90 degrees. Friday night will remain partly cloudy with overnight lows in the upper 60s.

Saturday is expected to begin mostly cloudy before becoming partly cloudy later in the day. Afternoon temperatures will remain warm, reaching the upper 80s. Clouds will increase again Saturday night with lows around 70 degrees.

Rain chances begin returning Sunday as mostly cloudy skies move into the area. Forecasters say there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours while temperatures remain in the upper 80s.

By Monday, rain chances increase slightly with mostly cloudy conditions continuing across the parish. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected during the morning before chances increase during the afternoon. High temperatures Monday are forecast to remain in the upper 80s with a 40 percent chance of rain.

Overall, the forecast points to several days of summer-like warmth across Natchitoches Parish with only limited opportunities for rainfall until late in the weekend.