Autumn Weather Is Almost Here In Herndon

HERNDON, VA -- It doesn't really feel like we're approaching mid-October, does it? Temperatures have been soaring into the 80s and making it feel more like August in Herndon.

But while the heat will continue to a certain extent this week, autumn weather is on the horizon, with a significant temperature plunge expected on Friday.

It won't start out that way. Temperatures will soar into the mid-80s on Monday, with some isolated showers in the morning and mostly cloudy skies through the day. Tuesday and Wednesday will reach into the low 80s, with a small chance of showers.

We won't get a whole lot of relief on Thursday, with temperatures getting up into the high 70s near 80. Showers are likely through the morning.

Friday is when things take a sudden turn in our area, with the high plunging to a truly autumn-like 65 degrees. There will be a chance of showers, but that will give way to a glorious fall weekend: mostly sunny skies on Saturday and Sunday with highs in the mid to upper 60s.

So take heart and keep that jacket handy: fall took a while to arrive, but it inevitably comes.

The full forecast from the National Weather Service for our area follows below:

Columbus Day
Patchy drizzle before 10am, then isolated showers after noon. Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Patchy drizzle and fog after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 6 mph.
Tuesday
Patchy drizzle before 10am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 7 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.
Wednesday
A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night
A chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday
Showers likely, mainly after 8am. Cloudy, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night
Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty