Tracking a warm week leading into weekend rain chances

TODAY: Tuesday is looking brighter and warmer! Light south winds and more sunshine puts us back into the 70s this afternoon, well warmer than seasonal averages.

TONIGHT: Temperatures fall into the low 50s with clear skies and a light southerly breeze.

EXTENDED: The overall pattern we're in favors generally south flow, bringing a slight warm up day by day. Expect mid-70s under sunny skies on Wednesday, and temperatures climbing into the upper 70s by Thursday and Friday. Clouds increase on Thursday and Friday, but sensibly, it will be sunny enough for sunglasses to come in handy. This southerly flow, both here at the surface and aloft, will not only keep us warmer, but bring enough moisture for the next wave moving through to bring rain. Our next system will bring a line of showers and storms to our western doorstep by Friday night. We'll likely see steady to heavy rain move in overnight into Saturday morning. At the moment, it looks like the best rainfall will focus on the western half of mid-Missouri, but coverage will spread areawide. We're cooler on Saturday, as rain and a wind shift leave highs in the 60s Saturday. Conditions will trend drier for Saturday night and the end of the weekend. As we clear out Sunday and Monday, temperatures look to remain more seasonable, in the 60s.