Tracking off and on rain chances into the weekend

TODAY: Wednesday morning is wet, with ongoing showers after flooding concerns the night prior. Be mindful of streams and waterways that flood easily this morning as light rainfall continues to keep flooding a concern across the region. Rain will continue in waves from southwest to northeast along a similarly oriented cold front that will slowly drift to the east today. This keeps showers in the forecast for many along and east of HWY 63 and HWY 54 this morning, and thunderstorms this afternoon. Depending on where this boundary is this afternoon, some storms may be capable of damaging winds. This is most likely near Ft. Leonard Wood, Rolla, and Owensville, but the threat is low. Non thunderstorm winds are light from the south in the east ahead of the boundary, and will gradually switch from the north as it passes. Highs will range from low-to-high 70s depending on where rain falls.

TONIGHT: We expect pressure to climb into the overnight as our rain moves away. This will help keep drier weather around through the overnight and into Thursday morning. Temperatures will settle in the low 60s with a generally north breeze expected.

EXTENDED: North to northeasterly winds will keep us relatively cool under more sunshine through Thursday. Highs reach the upper 70s with a drier day expected. Friday brings more storm chances as our boundary drifts back north. A wave moving along the boundary from west to east is depicted in model guidance and could bring a threat for strong storms from the Lake of the Ozarks to the I-44 corridor in mid-Missouri. Columbia and Jefferson City will have a chance for storms, but likely not severe weather as the threat is currently forecast farther south. Eventually, an upper level trough of low pressure will push the pesky boundary and elevated rain chances south. This brings us more of a northerly flow Saturday through Tuesday. We expect highs near 80, with low rain chances through this period.