The fear of grass and brush fires has led the National Weather Service to post a "red flag" warning for the North Country through early tonight.

The outlook for the weekend looks fine, with mild spring temperatures and sunny skies, before the chance of rain or snow move in for the early part of next week.

Winds today from the north at 10 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 30 mph have been sweeping the St. Lawrence Valley, and the low humidity and dry brush have the National Weather service concerned that "any fires that do occur today will likely spread quickly...burn intensely...and be difficult to contain."

Winds will diminish some this evening, northerly at around 10 mph and still gusty. The sky will be clear and lows will be in the low 20s.

Highs Saturday and Sunday will be in the mid-50s, with overnight lows tonight and Saturday night in the mid-20s.

Sunday night, the clouds move in. While the temperature probably won't go much below the freezing mark, there is a 30% chance of rain and snow.

The chamnce of precipitation rises to about 50% Monday, and as temps rise during the day, any snowfall is expected to turn to all rain.

That pattern is forecast to continue through Wednesday, moderating later in the week.

You can up to date on your weather outlook through the links on NorthCountryNow.com's weather page. <http://www.northcountrynow.com/weather>

The official National Weather Service forecast for the St. Lawrence Valley and northwestern Adirondacks:

The Red Flag Warning continues through 8 p.m. tonight.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. North wind between 5 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind between 8 and 14 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. North wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 57. West wind between 3 and 11 mph.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of rain showers before 1am, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 1am and 2am, then a chance of snow showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind between 7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday: A chance of snow showers before 7am, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 7am and 8am, then a chance of rain showers after 8am. Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Monday Night: A chance of rain showers before 2am, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday: Rain likely, possibly mixed with snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.