Tracking more morning rain ahead of a dry and cool weekend

TODAY: Showers will redevelop this morning ahead of cold front number one, which still has yet to clear the area. It will clear around midday, taking rainfall with it. The best chances lie east of a line from the Lake of the Ozarks to Audrain county. Widespread rain totals in this window will range from a tenth of an inch to near a half inch, with some isolated higher totals. Temperatures will be moderated by rain and clouds at first, but clearing skies behind the rain will climb temperatures into the upper 70s. Maries, Gasconade, Phelps, and nearby counties keep cloud cover the longest, and may get stuck in the low 70s.

TONIGHT: Another cold front returns after 7 p.m., just in time to drop temperatures overnight into the upper 40s by sunrise on Friday.

EXTENDED: Friday will be noticeably cooler, especially in the morning. The effect of the cold front is felt in the afternoon, and all the way through the weekend, with highs expected in the 60s each day. Lows will be even chillier, potentially dropping into the upper 30s and low 40s depending on location and elevation. Low lying areas in the north will be potentially susceptible to frost Sunday morning. A widespread frost is not likely, but with calm and clear skies, air temperatures may fall as low as 37, which means colder air may be able to sink to the surface in extreme cases. If you live at high elevations, you likely do not need to worry about frost. Stay tuned to the forecast as we near the weekend for better details on Sunday morning's lows. We return to low 70s Monday and Tuesday, then we expect a return to warmer than average temperatures, but this time upper 70s rather than 80s on Wednesday.