A National Weather Service hazardous weather outlook for St. Lawrence County warns of high winds and heavy rain.

A strong cold front approaching rapidly from the west will be preceded by strong south to southwesterly winds across the North Country as a line of strong to severe thunderstorms accompany the front as it sweeps across the region this afternoon into the evening. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected with stronger gusts possible.

The NWS warns that the primary threat from these storms will be strong to damaging wind gusts and brief heavy rainfall, expected between about 4 pm and 9 pm.

Temperatures will reach into the lower 80s ahead of the frontal system. A surface low pressure area will track northeastward north of the St. Lawrence Valley this afternoon and, bringing termps in the upper 40s tonight and drier and cooler weather to the North Country for Sunday.

That will be followed by an extended period of dry and pleasant weather for much of next week.

You check out local radar loop from near Lowville here, and the latest forecasts at our weather page.

The forecast from the NWS:

Today: Occasional showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. High near 78. Windy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight: Occasional showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 1am. Low around 48. Southwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. West wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Calm wind.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Light northwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 39.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 70.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 44.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 50.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 77.

Thursday Night; Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Friday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 30%.