Insider Blog: Tracking dangerous heat tomorrow and rounds of storms Tuesday night through July 4

After a cool start to the week, we have an active and hot few days shaping up as we get closer to Independence Day.

Winds shift back to the south tonight into Tuesday as a warm front lifts north, sending dew points back into the lower 70s. We'll notice the increase in humidity early on Tuesday, and definitely feel the effects by afternoon as highs reach the mid-90s. The heat index ranges from about 100-104 degrees by late afternoon.

Be sure to limit time outdoors and take breaks in the shade if you must be outside in the heat.

We'll get some relief with storms developing ahead of a cold front that is expected to stall across the region through Thursday night.

Storms are expected to become severe across southern Iowa and northern Missouri on Tuesday night, but we lose a lot of necessary energy farther south for storms to remain severe across much of Mid-Missouri. The most likely area to experience damaging winds will be along Highway 36 and north.

The front will stall, keeping scattered clouds and a chance for a few showers around on Wednesday, therefore keeping us a bit cooler during the day. The chance for storms ramps up again on Wednesday night, and some of those could be strong with isolated gusty winds.

The day time looks largely dry on July 4, but it will be warm and humid with heat indices approaching the mid-upper 90s. We'll be tracking a chance for more storms that become widespread late Thursday night, which could impact fireworks displays.

The weather looks much more promising - and cooler- Friday into the weekend for outdoor plans. Temperatures drop off into the 80s with lower humidity through Sunday.

It's a great idea to have the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather App downloaded to your phone or device, whether you're staying home or traveling for the holiday. Lightning and severe weather alerts will notify you if you have the location settings enabled.