LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Happy Friday! Mid-summer heat returns to the forecast as we close out the workweek. Afternoon highs today will be climbing into the low 90s for most, with a few locations in southern Kentucky staying in the upper 80s. This is well-above normal for this time of the year, but not quite record warmth. The last few days there have been a few pop-up showers in eastern Kentucky, today that chance is much lower and we expect most areas to remain dry. We keep the unseasonably warm temperatures around tonight, with lows only falling into the mid-to-upper 60s. A few rain chances return for the weekend but the heat continues. Rain chances increase early next week as the pattern turns a bit more active. WEEKEND HEAT Saturday will be another very warm day with afternoon highs climbing into the upper 80s and low 90s. There is a small chance of an isolated shower or storm, but I do expect most locations to stay dry. Heading to the Kentucky-Ohio game at Kroger Field? It’s going to be hot with temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s. Don’t be surprised by one of the pop-up showers or storms though. That pop-up chance will be around during the game. Sunday will likely start off dry before isolated rain chances return late day. Most of the daytime will remain dry though, allowing temperatures to warm-up into the upper 80s near 90 once again. PATTERN TURNS MORE ACTIVE Rain chances will be increasing early next week. A slow moving frontal boundary pushes in from the northwest Monday into the day on Tuesday. A few waves of moisture will be moving along this boundary as it parks itself over the Ohio Valley. We aren’t talking about widespread heavy rain, but there will be increased rain chances, particularly Monday and Tuesday. The current rainfall forecast has most of the area with a half inch to an inch worth of rain over the next 7 days, with higher amounts possible north of I-64. A potential tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico next week complicates the forecast for later in the week. There could be some influence for us locally from that system, but it is far too early to say for sure. Stay with the ABC 36 Storm Team for more updates.  ABC 36 HOUR FORECAST FRIDAY: Mostly sunny and hot. Highs in the low 90s. FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear and unseasonably warm. Lows in the mid-to-upper 60s. SATURDAY: Partly cloudy with an isolated shower or storm. Highs in the upper 80s and low 90s. Categories: Featured, Local Weather Headlines, Storm Team Weather Blog, Weather, Weather Forecast Tags: ABC 36 Hour Forecast, ABC 36 Second Forecast, Drought, Kentucky, Kentucky weather, Meteorologist Dillon Gaudet, September, weather forecast, Weather Video, Weekend Forecast