Tracking a mild and quiet pattern into a more active weekend

TODAY: Thursday is sunny and mild, with highs in the mid-60s, and a return to a breezy south wind.

TONIGHT: Skies begin to cloud this afternoon, with clouds increasing into the evening. This ultimately leads to a chance for a few light showers north of I-70 after 9 p.m. The greatest chances come near midnight, and rain chances are out by around 3 a.m.

EXTENDED: Friday looks mostly sunny behind clouds that mostly leave by sunrise. We'll expect a northwest breeze through the day, but highs are forecast in the upper 60s thanks to the warm start. A disturbance will roll through the region on Saturday, increasing clouds. Shower chances will hold off most of the day, but rain may be possible by 6 p.m. This means we have a good chance at getting through the Mizzou game with dry weather. However, things change quickly after the game. This disturbance is part of a deepening upper trough that is expected to fill the region with cold air that will push us near record lows by Monday morning. We expect to get cold Saturday night, starting Sunday in the low 30s and upper 20s. Sunday afternoon, some may not get out of the 30s, with highs forecast at 40° on the nose for Columbia. Sunday night into Monday morning we get colder, dropping into the 10s and 20s by sunrise. This type of cold is uncommon this early in the season, and our record low Monday morning is 16°. For as deep as the cold spell is, it certainly isn't as prolonged. We'll be back to highs in the 50s/60s by midweek. Both rain chances Friday and Saturday together are generally expected to bring less than a tenth of an inch of rain, mostly in the north.