Tracking the potential for severe storms Tuesday, cooler end to the week
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy and breezy with lows near 60.
TOMORROW: Warm and windy early with partly cloudy skies. Highs into the mid-80s with a chance for isolated severe storms late in the afternoon. Another round of storms ramping up late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning could bring heavy rain and damaging winds.
EXTENDED: A warm front lifts to our north tonight, bringing in even warmer temperatures and more moisture ahead of a cold front that will move through the area late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Temperatures remain near 60 degrees by morning, with gusty winds whipping up to 30 mph during the day. Isolated severe storms are possible by late afternoon through early evening, especially north of I-70. These storms will have the potential of producing large hail up to golf ball size, and tornadoes. A limiting factor for severe weather will be a warmer layer of air just above the surface called a capping inversion. This could act as a lid for storm development, keeping Mid-Missouri quiet during the day. If storm updrafts can break through the "cap," any storm that develops will have severe potential. Later in the evening, the threat for severe weather returns for round two along a cold front that will be moving in from the west. These storms will have the potential of bringing damaging winds between 60-70 mph as the main concern, along with the threat of a tornado along the leading edge of the line after midnight. Strong sustained winds will stick around through Wednesday morning, with gusts up to 45 mph possible. We'll be cooler behind the front, with highs only reaching around 60 on Wednesday. Wednesday night and Thursday night will fall into the lower 30s, meaning frost will be possible, so cover any sensitive plants. The weekend is looking warmer as we get back into the mid-60s Friday and low 70s Saturday and Sunday. Easter Sunday starts off dry, but there could be showers and storms by evening along a cold front.
