ArkLaTex weather: dry, warm start to the week with highs near 81; wildfire risk stays up, but Halloween weekend rain chances are growing

The week starts warm and dry across the ArkLaTex. The National Weather Service in Shreveport has no watches, warnings or advisories in effect for its area this morning. That office forecasts for all five cities below, including Monroe.

The main concern: wildfire risk

In its forecast discussion, the weather service said wildfires remain a concern through the end of the work week because of the drought, and it expects the drought to keep getting worse into early November. Its fire weather forecast calls for only a very slow rise in afternoon humidity this week. In McCurtain and Sevier counties, afternoon humidity could drop to about 26% today. Crews in McCurtain County were already fighting a large wildfire near Eagletown over the weekend. Before you burn anything outdoors, check our burn ban roundup and your parish or county.

Today and tonight

Highs reach about 81 everywhere today, and rain chances are 0%. High clouds should stick around through Tuesday, the weather service said.

• Shreveport: high 81, low tonight 55. Halloween (Sat.) rain chance 50%. Forecast
• Monroe: high 81, low tonight 52. Halloween (Sat.) rain chance 40%. Forecast
• Longview: high 81, low tonight 53. Halloween (Sat.) rain chance 50%. Forecast
• Texarkana: high 81, low tonight 55. Halloween (Sat.) rain chance 50%. Forecast
• El Dorado: high 81, low tonight 49. Halloween (Sat.) rain chance 50%. Forecast

Looking ahead

Tuesday through Thursday stay dry, with highs of 81 to 82 Tuesday and 82 to 84 Wednesday. Lows climb from the lower 50s toward about 60 by the weekend. The weather service says forecast models agree better now on beneficial rain from Friday night through the weekend. Rain chances are 30 to 40% Friday night, 40 to 50% on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, and 40 to 50% Saturday night. In Shreveport, the forecast calls for a slight chance of showers Friday night, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. How much rain falls is still uncertain, the fire weather forecast says. If you have Halloween plans outdoors, check back later this week.

Current alerts for the region are always listed by the National Weather Service.