Last week’s persistent rain and gloom will quickly fade to a distant memory as nearly perfect mid-September weather sets in for an extended stay. With high pressure dominating the Midwest weather, sunshine will be abundant, quickly erasing the month’s massive deficit, the greatest in nearly a century. With eight straight days of measurable precipitation in the rearview mirror, little, if any, rain is expected; the best chance comes with a cold front passing through Wednesday night. Temperatures will cluster around seasonable readings in the 70s much of the week, though readings should surge into the low 80s Wednesday as southerly winds bring late-season warmth. The Gulf Coast is bracing for Tropical Storm Sally to make landfall as a hurricane by early Tuesday, bringing widespread flooding and torrential rainfall.