A ridge of high pressure several hundred miles north of the islands will keep the trade winds blowing at a light to moderate pace and result in a somewhat dry weather pattern with occasional windward and mauka rainfall through Friday, the National Weather Service said in its forecast.

As the weekend arrives the trades will pick up a notch as the ridge backs away to the north and showers across windward areas may pick up a bit, forecasters said.

Here's how the next few days are shaping up:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 85. Southeast wind between 6 and 8 mph.

Tonight: Isolated showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind between 7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind around 11 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 9 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. East wind between 8 and 10 mph.

Friday Night: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.