A stretch of unsettled weather is expected across Rapides Parish beginning Wednesday, with showers and thunderstorms likely through the end of the workweek before drier and cooler conditions arrive for the weekend.

Rain chances will increase Wednesday, with thunderstorms becoming more likely in the afternoon and continuing into Wednesday night. Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 80s before a cooling trend begins.

By Thursday, cloud cover will remain in place with scattered showers and possible afternoon thunderstorms. Highs will drop into the mid-70s as a cooler air mass moves into the region.

Rain chances will peak Friday, with widespread showers and thunderstorms expected throughout the day. Daytime highs will fall further into the upper 60s, with overnight lows dipping into the lower 50s.

Conditions are expected to improve heading into the weekend. Saturday will start mostly cloudy before becoming partly sunny, with highs near 70 degrees.

Clearer skies are forecast from Saturday night through Sunday night, with cooler mornings in the upper 40s and afternoon highs in the mid-70s.

Looking ahead to early next week, dry weather will continue with mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will gradually warm, reaching the lower 80s by Monday and mid-80s by Tuesday.

Forecasters advise residents to remain aware of changing conditions during the midweek storms before a return to more comfortable spring weather.