There is finally more than just dry weather and a risk of rapid fire spread this week! While the week starts dry and windy today, leading to any fires being able to spread quickly, there will be beneficial rain later in the week. Parts of the lower Hudson Valley may even see the first scattered snowflakes of the season into the weekend!

It will be warm for November today with a mostly sunny afternoon, highs in the low 60s and scattered wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph. Have the winter coat again tonight with lows in the 30s to low 40s.

Tomorrow will be dry with less wind ahead of that steady rain chance Wednesday night through mid-morning on Thursday. Scattered showers can linger into Thursday afternoon. It will also feel colder for the end of the week with highs in the 40s Thursday through much of the weekend.

In terms of any snowflakes this week, it's likely not going to be much, but higher elevations and areas along and north of I-84 will have a chance at a few snow showers between Friday and Saturday. Otherwise, a mix of sun and clouds with a few scattered rain showers possible.

Overall, the weather pattern is likely to become more active over the next few weeks! Hopefully we can get more rounds of wet weather that will slowly help ease the current severe drought we are in.

FIRE SPREAD RISK: Elevated today as wind gusts increase to around 25 mph. Open flames should not be used. Burn bans are in effect.

DROUGHT MONITOR: The entire lower Hudson Valley is in a "severe drought."

TROPICS: Quiet at this time.

FORECAST:

TODAY: ELEVATED FIRE SPREAD RISK - Mainly sunny this afternoon after starting with more clouds this morning. A bit windy with northwest gusts between 20 and 30 mph through this afternoon. This will lead to an elevated risk of fire spread once again. Highs around 62 degrees.

TONIGHT: Mainly clear and chilly with a light breeze. Lows around 40 degrees.

TUESDAY: Sun and clouds. Highs near 57 degrees. WIND: NW 5-15 mph. Lows near 40 degrees.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. A passing shower is possible, but steady rain mostly arrives towards and after midnight. Highs around 58 degrees. WIND: N/E 5-10 mph. Lows around 44 degrees.

THURSDAY: BENEFICIAL RAIN - Periods of rain in the morning with scattered showers possible still in the afternoon. Rain totals will be around 0.5" to 1.5" and while this will help ongoing wildfire fighting efforts and begin to put a small dent in the drought, this will not fix the problem. We will still need multiple rounds of wet weather to ease the severe drought even more. Highs around 49 degrees. Lows around 37 degrees.

FRIDAY: FIRST FLAKES FOR SOME? Sun and clouds with a few scattered showers. Some of those rain showers in higher elevations, especially north of I-84 may mix with snowflakes! Highs near 45 degrees. Lows around 38 degrees.

SATURDAY: Sun and clouds with a few scattered showers. Some of those rain showers in higher elevations, especially north of I-84 may mix with snowflakes. Highs near 49 degrees. Lows around 38 degrees.

SUNDAY: Sun and clouds. Highs around 50 degrees. Lows near 36 degrees.