WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A cold front approaches overnight, bringing more traditional autumn temperatures to the Hudson Valley. The front has a very small chance of producing some showers as it passes by overnight, but any rain that does arrive will be spotty and brief. The winds will be picking up after the front passes. Expect a breezy and cooler day on Thursday with high temperatures into the upper 50s to low 60s. The average high is 60 degrees, and many will be around that number for Thursday and close to it through Saturday.

• Another cold front will pass by Saturday midday, kicking up breezy winds for Saturday and then ushering in even cooler temperatures for Sunday and Monday. Most locations will be into the mid-50s for those two days. We go from way above average this week, to average, then below average within a week. Temperatures will do a similar swing in the upward direction from Monday to through the rest of next week. Halloween is next Thursday, and it could be a very warm day for all the trick-or-treaters. The record high for October 31st is 73 degrees (set in 1999) and the forecast high of 79 degrees could shatter that record if it is achieved.

• FALL FOLIAGE COLORS:

Westchester: low to moderate

Rockland: moderate

Putnam: moderate to high

Orange: moderate to high

Dutchess: moderate to high

Ulster: high to peak

• DROUGHT MONITOR:

Abnormally dry conditions (a 1 out of 5 on our scale) exist for nearly every part of the region. There hasn't been significant measurable rain in weeks. A new drought monitor comes out Thursday, and conditions are highly likely to worsen.

• TROPICS: There are no systems being monitored by the National Hurricane Center.

• ASTRO:

Orionid meteor shower can still be visible into early November, but the frequency of meteors will be backing down gradually. The best chance to see some is to look after midnight and give your eyes some time to adjust to the night sky. The further away you are from town and streetlights, the better your chances will be to see some streaking across the sky.

FORECAST:

OVERNIGHT: Mostly cloudy with a small chance of some passing rain sprinkles. Temps will be running above average. Lows: low to upper 50s.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud to sunny skies with breezy to windy conditions and a cooler feeling in the air. Highs: upper 50s to low 60s. Lows: upper 30s to low 40s.

FRIDAY: Mainly sunny. Highs: low 60s. Lows: mid-40s.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, breezy at times. Highs: mid-60s. Lows: upper 30s to low 40s.

SUNDAY: Sunny, cool and breezy at times. Highs: mid-50s. Lows: low to mid-30s.

MONDAY: Sunny. Highs: mid- to upper 50s. Lows: upper 30s to low 40s.

TUESDAY: Sunny. Highs: low to mid-60s. Lows: upper 40s to low 50s.

WEDNESDAY: Mainly sunny. Highs: upper 60s to low 70s. Lows: low to mid-50s.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and very warm. Highs: mid- to upper 70s. Lows: mid- to upper 50s.

FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs: low 70s. Lows: low to mid-50s.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs: mid- to upper 60s. Lows: upper 40s.