Nashville residents can look forward to putting their jackets aside as a stretch of warmer weather kicks in starting today according to the National Weather Service. With the mercury set to hit a comfortable 73 degrees and a light south-southwest breeze, the city is shaking off the last of its winter chill.

The calm before the spring zephyr is evidenced by this morning's still air and a 93% humidity that set a dew-laden stage, the National Weather Service reports. Tonight's outlook remains pleasant, but clouds will start to gather, and temperatures are expected to hover around 53 degrees, with those south winds still nudging at 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday and Sunday are poised to step up the heat, with clear skies on Saturday and a jump to 78 degrees, while Sunday will peak at around 81 degrees despite some cloud cover. The weekend will serve breezy gusts alongside the warmth, giving outdoor enthusiasts a reason to celebrate. Nashville's National Weather Service forecasts "sunny, with a high near 78" for Saturday and a "partly sunny, with a high near 81" for Sunday.

Rolling into the new week, chances of showers and thunderstorms begin to creep into the forecast. Monday will carry a 20 percent likelihood of rainfall after 1 pm, spiking to a 70 percent chance by the night as thunderstorms could roll in, possibly packing gusts as high as 25 mph. Come Tuesday, frequent showers and a potential thunderstorm are expected to keep things damp with still hearty southwest winds.

As the week continues, the potential for wet weather begins to decrease, with Wednesday seeing a slight 20 percent chance of showers against a backdrop of mostly sunny skies. By Thursday the city should see clear skies with daytime temperatures reaching a crisp 64 degrees.