The potential for gusty winds and dry lightning will likely increase the chance of elevated wildfire weather over the weekend, but in the meantime, it's all about the hot and continued dry weather. In short, high pressure will strengthen and give the area a good dose of heat through the end of the workweek with high temperatures coming in well above normal. Any areas with thicker haze from local wildfire smoke may experience slightly cooler temperatures. Readings should peak on Friday before a storm system offshore begins to influence our pattern, with clouds beginning to increase as early as Friday afternoon. Gusty winds and the chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms will arrive by Saturday along with cooler temperatures. In case you haven't noticed, we've been in a disturbing trend whereas any beneficial showers literally surround our immediate forecast area, leaving much of our region high and dry. That will likely occur again this weekend, that is unless there is a last-minute change in the expected track of the storm. As it stands now, just scattered precipitation is expected, with the best chances arriving late Saturday and Saturday night.