Today's Weather: A Chance Of Thunderstorms And Partly Sunny With High Near 83

The National Weather Service says a trough of low pressure is building throughout the tri-state area, and a cold front is approaching from the north.

"This cold front will pass through this evening and slowly drift south late tonight and Monday," the NWS says. "Meanwhile, another cold front approaches from the west and passes through Monday night. High pressure then builds in for the middle of the week."

Generally, high pressure systems dominate the weather in any particular region and contribute to good, stable weather. "Low pressure areas are disturbances which form on the fringes of conflicting airmasses. In the life cycle of a low pressure center, it will bring wind, clouds and precipitation to a particular region before exiting or dissipating. Once the low pressure is gone, high pressure will regain control over an area."

For a further explanation of high and low pressure systems, see this page on the National Weather Service website.

The air quality conditions at 6:00 a.m. were good, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection Agency, but it was forecast to become moderate later in the day, meaning "unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors." For the latest information on air quality, you can check the state DEP AirNow website.

The National Weather Service forecast for the upcoming week is as follows:

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming north between 4 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 7 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. West wind between 5 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

For the latest, updated forecast, please see the National Weather Service website.