Morning clouds will give way to partial sunshine this afternoon as high pressure and its cooler airmass settles south across the St. Lawrence Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

Highs today will be much cooler than what we have been used to over the last few months, forecasters say. The peak temp today will b around 66 with sunny skies this afternoon.

Overnight the low will be around 44 with calm winds, the service says.

Temperatures gradually warm by Thursday into Friday before a strong cold front and associated showers push through the area Friday evening. Behind this front cooler and drier weather are expected for the upcoming weekend.

The forecast through Tuesday is as follows:

Thursday

Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 56. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southeast after midnight. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. West wind 10 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. North wind 6 to 9 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Light and variable wind.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. East wind around 6 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind around 7 mph.

Tuesday

A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 9 to 11 mph.