SUNDAY'S FORECAST ... Warm; rain on the way

The weeeknd ends with partly cloudy to cloudy skies, and temperatures well above normal for the first week in January.

Highs today (Sunday) will reach the upper 70s. Lows will dip into the mid to upper 50s. Average temperatures for today range from a high of 60 to a low of 40.

The rain chance increases to 40 percent Monday for the Gubernatorial Inauguration in Baton Rouge and the LSU-Alabama showdown in New Orleans for the BCS National Championship.

Highs will reach the lower 70s and lows will drop only to around 58. A 40 percent probability of rain is in the forecast.

Daytime highs Monday in New Orleans will reach the upper 70s, while lows will dip into the upper 50s. Temperatures should hover around 70 at gametime.

The rain chances increase to 80 percent Tuesday as a cold front pushes into the area. The front could bring up to 3 inches of rain to the area.

Highs will reach the upper 60s.

Temperatures may not reach 60 on Wednesday or Thursday. Skies will be sunny,however, with lows in the lower 40s and upper 30s Thursday night.

A dry cold front will bring temperatures a bit cooler by the following weekend. Highs will only reach the lower 50s, with lows in the mid 30s. Chance of rain is 30 percent.