Mild weather with daytime highs 5 to 10 degrees warmer than normal is expected through Saturday across the Central Sierra Nevada, and there’s a 50-50 chance of light rain in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties early next week, forecasters said Tuesday.

The same high pressure ridge that’s allowing clear skies, sunshine and a drying trend this week could be a factor in whether the next spell of wet weather tracks south far enough to bring more rain and snow to the Mother Lode.