70s in late October? This type of weather is unseasonably warm for our area. Today's weather featured not only temperatures in the low 70s, but also a few thunderstorms in Madison, Southern Oneida, and Southern Herkimer County. The jet stream has brought this warmth to our region thanks to a pattern called a ridge. This northern push of the jet stream allows warm air to move in from the south.

A cold front will bring a drop in the temperature for Thursday. Temepratures will climb into the upper 50s to low 60s - still warmer than our average high for this time of year which is 56°. Another warm front arrives Thursday night, bringing a surge of warmth back to the region on Friday. Highs on Friday look to bein the mid 70s! The local record high for the Utica/Rome region is 77° set back in 1939. We'll probably fall just shy of that, but it could be close.

The jet stream pattern looks to shift as we head into the weekend. The weather looks wet early Saturday, with a return to sunshine on Sunday. Highs look to climb into the 50s on both days. A gradual drop in the jet stream will bring unsettled weather to the region on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with the risk for rain. Much cooler weather looks to follow, with highs only in the 40s and 50s.

What's getting our attention is the long range forecast heading into Halloween. The pattern signals colder than average temperatures leading into Halloween - cold enough for the first snowflakes of the season? It's too early to tell, but it's something we'll be looking into as we get closer.