With the warm air returning to the area, fire weather concerns increase, according to the National Weather Service of Topeka. South winds are expected to become strong by early afternoon between 20 and 30 mph, gusting up to 40 mph. Combined with the dry air in place, critical fire weather conditions exist today with outdoor burning being strongly avoided.

Similar conditions are expected on Tuesday with the Fire Weather Watch in effect. Temperatures are on a rollercoaster this week with readings jumping into the 60s today, 70s and 80s Tuesday and Wednesday before dropping back into the 40s on Thursday.

Rain chances return Wednesday evening and Thursday, mainly north of Interstate 70.

Today: Breezy…warmer…sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

Tonight: Breezy. Not as cool. Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. South winds 15 to 25 mph shifting to the southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph after midnight.

Tuesday: Warmer. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. South winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Tuesday Night: Breezy. Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 10 to 25 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

Wednesday: Windy…cooler. Mostly sunny with slight chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. Highs around 70. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph increasing to west 20 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Windy. Much colder. Mostly cloudy with snow likely…possibly mixed with rain. Lows in the lower 30s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Thursday: Much cooler. Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s.

Friday: Not as cool. Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with slight chance of rain showers. Lows in the upper 30s.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with slight chance of rain showers. Highs in the mid 50s.