Two cold fronts will move through the area in coming days, bringing more fall-like temperatures but doing little to reverse recent dry conditions.

Lawrence is running 3.5 inches below normal rainfall for the year.

Matt Wolters, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Topeka, said 29.62 inches of rain have been recorded as of Sunday at the Lawrence Municipal Airport. That is 3.5 inches less than normal and 15 inches less than what was recorded at this time last year.

Wolters said spring and summer rainfall amounts were normal and that most of the annual shortfall stems from a drier and warmer fall.

Temperatures, which have been reaching daytime highs of the mid-80s, will start returning to normal this week with the passing of two cold fronts through Lawrence, but neither front is expected to bring significant moisture, Wolters said.

The first front passed through Lawrence on Sunday night, Wolters said.

The high Monday should be about 75 with afternoon highs returning to the mid-80s Tuesday and Wednesday before a second and stronger cold front sweeps through the area Wednesday night.

Wolters said highs Thursday and Friday would dip into the mid-60s, and the overnight low Friday morning could be in the 30s.

“The second front doesn’t look promising for rain,” he said. “Right now, there is only a 50% chance of measurable moisture.”