SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — Enjoy the warm and mild weather today, but with northwest winds gusting from 25 to 30 miles an hour area fire officials are asking people to avoid outdoor burning as there is an elevated fire danger.

Things will cool down Saturday, but according to the National Weather Service, a warm-up next week could bring record highs Tuesday and Wednesday with the potential for severe weather Tuesday into Wednesday.

Weather service officials are calling for temperatures to be in the upper 60s to lower 70s Tuesday into Wednesday with locally heavy rain and gusty winds also possible.