Tracking storms to kick off the weekend

TODAY: Friday is warmer, with more humidity. It begins with showers and a few rumbles of thunder. No severe weather is expected, but be wary of lightning through early afternoon. This round for rain will come along a warm front that lifts through the region. Expect highs near 90, and feels like temperatures a few degrees warmer.

TONIGHT: After a mostly dry afternoon, storms will return after sunset, closer to 10 p.m. near Macon and Chariton counties in the northwest. These storms will be along a cold front that drives thunderstorms into the I-70 corridor by midnight. Columbia and Jefferson City see these storms in the 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. window, before these storms reach I-44 around 5 a.m. Severe weather will be possible, but unlikely for most. Some isolated pockets of hail, and gusts of damaging winds will be possible, mostly early in the night from Macon to Columbia, Sedalia, and Camdenton. Best energy will be with the western segment of the line of storms. Depending on where the strongest storms develop, folks could see a half inch to an inch of rain.

EXTENDED: Saturday morning will be wet thanks to the aforementioned showers and storms, but this activity will dry up by noon. With that said, the cold front will stall nearby, keeping a chance for thunderstorms south of I-70 in the forecast once more by Saturday evening. A chance for severe storms with a threat of hail and gusty winds will be possible here. Highs in the low 90s feel like near 100 as we see more humidity Saturday. We'll be drier and cooler on Sunday, with highs in the 80s and lower humidity. It's another warm but mild and sunny day on Monday, with highs in the 80s ahead of a warmup into the 90s Tuesday through Thursday.