Tracking a breezy afternoon ahead of a sharp cold front

THIS AFTERNOON: Gusty winds are driving a milder Friday, after a 10 degree climb from Thursday. Winds from the southwest will be sustained in the 15-25 mph range, and gusts at times could reach as high as 40+ mph. This will warm us into the low 60s despite mostly cloudy skies.

TONIGHT: A cold front will arrive this evening to change the direction of our warming winds. This will bring a line of spotty showers through Mid-Missouri after 9 p.m. Little to no rain accumulation is expected. Winds shifting from the north will be gusty at times, dropping temperatures into the low-to-mid 20s by Saturday morning.

EXTENDED: Surface high pressure keeps skies sunny through the majority of Saturday though highs only make the upper 30s. High clouds will return late Saturday night, as moisture tries to return for Sunday. It currently looks as if any precipitation will struggle to make it north of the Springfield area, leaving us dry through the weekend. Some potential for freezing rain exists near Springfield as rain may fall through temperatures near or below freezing. Still, little impact is expected here. Sunday afternoon we stay dry and climb temperatures into the upper 40s. Our next rain chance holds off until Monday afternoon when enough moisture is pulled in from the south to bring a chance at some showers. This will be ahead of a low pressure system that arrives on Tuesday and brings another cold front and subsequent rain chances through. Highs are forecast in the 30s Tuesday, with not much change on Wednesday despite more sun.