Residents in Winn Parish should prepare for a round of strong showers and thunderstorms Wednesday before a stretch of sunny and cooler weather settles into the area later in the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters say Wednesday will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms during the morning, with more widespread showers and possible thunderstorms developing after 1 p.m. High temperatures are expected to reach around 82 degrees. Winds will be out of the south at 5 to 15 mph, with gusts possibly reaching up to 20 mph. Rain chances are high, with a 90 percent probability of precipitation.

Storm activity is expected to continue into Wednesday night, with showers and a possible thunderstorm before 1 a.m., followed by a lingering chance of showers overnight. Temperatures will drop significantly, with lows around 48 degrees and an 80 percent chance of rain.

Conditions will improve by Thursday as skies clear and sunshine returns. Thursday’s high is expected to reach about 66 degrees, followed by a clear and cooler Thursday night with lows near 42.

Sunny weather will continue into Friday, with afternoon highs climbing to around 77 degrees and overnight lows near 49 under clear skies.

The warming trend will continue through the weekend. Saturday is expected to be sunny with a high near 81 and a mostly clear night with lows around 57. By Sunday, partly sunny conditions are forecast with temperatures rising to around 85 degrees.

Meteorologists encourage residents to remain weather-aware Wednesday as storms move through the area before enjoying the quieter and warmer conditions expected later in the week.