Partly sunny skies this afternoon could give way to rain tonight that will continue to dominate the weather picture through most of this week in the St. Lawrence Valley.

A gusty afternoon is expected today, with southwest winds at about 16 mph, gusting as high as 32 mph, the National Weather Service predicts. Clouds are predicted to thicken tonight with lows around 57.

A surface cold front will bring scattered rain showers and possible thunderstorms to the North Country on Tuesday, with high around 70, the NWS says.

Much cooler air will filter in from the northwest, forecasters say, with highs Wednesday and Thursday in the upper 50s to lower 60s, along with considerable cloudiness and scattered rain showers.

Forecasters expect high pressure to build in from the west for Friday with partly to mostly sunny conditions and temperatures moderating back into the upper 60s to lower 70s.

The NWS forecast for the St. Lawrence Valley and northwestern Adirondacks:

• This Afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

• Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 57. South wind 6 to 15 mph.

• Tuesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

• Tuesday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. West wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

• Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. West wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

• Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind around 9 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

• Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 59. West wind around 11 mph.

• Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Light south wind.

• Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Light south wind.

• Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Calm wind.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind 3 to 7 mph.