Forecast: Cooler weather arrives for the holiday weekend.

CLEVELAND - Saturday Morning UPDATE: Welcome to Fall!  A dramatic change in the weather is underway. A trough of low pressure will move south thru Ohio today. Behind this trough, much cooler air will settle in to the region. Highs today will not make it out of the 60s. That cool air moving over a warm Lake Erie will result in scattered lake-effect rain showers and a persistant strato-cumulus cloud deck. Winds will be gusty out of the west-northwest. 20 to 30 mph.

Lows tonight will drop into the upper 40s and lower 50s. Showers should gradually taper off tonight.

Sunshine returns Sunday. Highs will still struggle to reach 70 degrees.

Labor Day Monday is the ideal day for outdoor plans. High temperatures will top out in the upper 70s and lower 80s. Sun will be the rule with no rain in the forecast. Enjoy the weekend!

9pm UPDATE: Cold front now in Western Pa. moving east. Now we await the next trough of low pressure currently over Michigan and moving south. As the trough approaches, clouds will thicken up again. The air near and behind the trough is very chilly in the 60's. that cool air moving over the warm lake, will likely stir up scattered lake-effect rain showers with some embedded thunder. Windy conditions are likely, especially near the shoreline.

4:30pm UPDATE: Boaters beware! Small Craft Advisory tonight thru Saturday night. Winds: Northwest 20-30 mph. Waves increasing to 5-7 feet. Water temp: 74 degreesF.

4pm UPDATE: Let the Labor Day Weekend begin. Cold front is through. Looks dry thru at least 9 pm. Temperatures @ 7pm will drop into the lower 70s. Temps will be in the low to mid 60s by 10pm.  So, you might need a sweater is you are staying out late. Computer forecast suggests an isolated shower near the lake shore this evening. There's a better chance for showers as a trough of low pressure arrives toward dawn Saturday. A few Lake-effect showers are possible in the cool NW wind flow on Saturday. Highs will top out in the middle and upper 60s. Sunday looks dry and mild with sunshine and highs near 70. Monday is your best day of the weekend! Sunshine is likely with high temperatures in the upper 70s and lower 80s.

3pm UPDATE: Mark Johnson signing in. Cold front is exiting Ohio at this time. Some sun is breaking out in the drier air coming in from the west. Based on radar data, winds just above the surface are 30+ mph. I expect breezy conditions to develop this evening and linger through Saturday. Friday night high school football games should be dry with temperatures in the 60s.

1:00 p.m. Update: Rain is clearing in Lorain and Cuyahoga County, while scattered showers and heavy downpours still affect areas south and east of Cleveland.  If you're wondering about Friday Football games, I think conditions will be dry and mostly clear.  Enjoy the holiday weekend!  -Christine

12:30 p.m. Update:  Hurricane Earl has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm with winds of 85 mph.  A Hurricane Warning is still in effect for Cape Cod.  The rest of New England is under a Tropical Storm Warning.  Earl will pass close to Cape Cod tonight. 

11:30 a.m. Update: Showers continue to move east, although most of the heavy rain is over the lake.  Scattered showers will affect our entire area through noon, with gradual clearing by early evening. 

10:30 a.m. Update:  Light showers are moving into Cuyahoga, Lake, Summit, and Wayne County.  A heavier line of showers is over the lake, just skirting Erie and Lorain County.  Expect a chance of rain through noon, with clearing later today.

9:30 a.m. Update: A line of showers is passing through Sandusky, with rain back toward Findlay and Toledo.  The wind has picked up out of the southwest, blowing at 10-20 mph.  Rain will move east over the next two hours. 

9:00 a.m. Update: Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out my weekend events guide: www.newsnet5.com/dpp/entertainment/around_town/from-cleveland-to-canton%2C-we-have-your-weekend-covered

8:00 a.m. Tropical Update: Hurricane Earl brought heavy rain and gusty wind to coastal North Carolina this morning.  Earl is a Category 2 storm with winds of 105 mph. The current track shifts slightly east, but Cape Cod will still be impacted.  A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Cape Cod, with a Tropical Storm Warning posted for the southern half of Nova Scotia. 
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A strong cold front will sweep through northern Ohio early this afternoon.  A few showers are possible as the front passes, with gradual clearing later today. 

Breezy conditions will kick in tonight and definitely tomorrow.  The wind will be from the west at 15-25 mph with higher gusts.

As the coolest air arrives tomorrow morning, showers are possible.  The best chance to see rain will be near the lake. 

High pressure moves overhead Sunday and Monday, providing sunny, cool, and comfortable weather.  Highs will be in the 70s.

Temperatures climb to the 80s Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the next cold front.