October is always one of the cheapest months on my utility bill. The days are warm enough to call for open windows. No heating needed, but no air conditioning, either. And the nights are mild enough for open windows, too, or at least for no more than an extra blanket.

Last night's low at BWI-Marshall Airport was 63 degrees. That was 3 degrees short of matching the all-time record for the highest overnight low temperature for Baltimore on this date - 66 degrees, set on Oct. 15, 1941. The high yesterday was 82 degrees at the airport. It was 80 here at The Sun in downtown Baltimore, for the second day in a row. The low this morning was 69 degrees.

And already we're looking at 76 degrees just after 11 a.m. Forecasters out at Sterling think we could reach 78 today at the airport. We may touch the low 80s again downtown. But this will soon come to an end.

A cold front will bring clouds late today and into tomorrow, with a chance for some light rain. Temperatures won't start to slide until Thursday evening. The sun returns for a prolonged stay on Friday, with nothing but blue skies well into next week. But temperatures will climb no higher than the 60s on Friday. And Saturday will feel like autumn, with a forecast high for Baltimore of just 56 degrees. We haven't seen a day that held in the 50s since May 20.

From there things will moderate some, and daytime temperatures into next week will reach the 60s. Overnight lows will be in the 40s.