Today should be a great day to work or play outdoors. With a high in the upper 80s and a gentle breeze to keep the bugs away, it promises to be the more pleasant day this weekend.

A large high-pressure ridge in the upper atmosphere will bring warm air over the Northern Plains late this weekend and into the week, increasing temperatures to the low 90s, National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Abeling said.

According to National Weather Service data, these temperatures will be seven to nine degrees higher than the average, 85.

"(Temperatures) are going to be above normal all the way through next week," Abeling said.

While temperatures will be a bit above normal, this mini-heat wave follows a normal summertime pattern, he said.

Precipitation will be minimal because no major weather system will be able to push through the high-pressure ridge, but Abeling predicts a slight chance of evening and overnight thunderstorms all week.