Tracking warm air, rain, and another cold snap

TODAY: Wednesday is another warm day. Temperatures start mild amid variable winds, but we expect south winds and sunshine to return temperatures to the 50s this afternoon.

TONIGHT: South winds increase as a cold front approaches tonight. Winds will be sustained around10-20 mph, and gust at times to 35 mph. Showers come with the passing of the cold front, early Thursday morning.

EXTENDED: Thursday starts with a quick chance for showers from 5 a.m. in the west, to 7 a.m. near Columbia and Jefferson City. Rain will exit around the noon hour in the far east, leaving most dry before that. Clouds will clear quickly behind the rainfall, leaving Columbia and Jefferson City in sunshine by 11 a.m. to noon. Winds will be breezy in the rainfall, but relax around midday. Shortly after sun pops out, winds from the west-northwest will start to pick up. This will keep temperatures generally falling trough the day. With sunny skies remaining, it's possible that temperatures climb for a short period, but only by a few degrees. We'll start the morning in the low-to-mid 50s, then cool into the 40s through the morning as rain falls. With afternoon sun, we might rebound to near 50 for a short while. Either way, it's windy through the afternoon with gusts near 35 again as sustained winds sit around 15-25 mph from the west-northwest. Cold high pressure moves in, dropping temperatures into the low 20s and high teens. Even as winds relax, this will give us a chance at wind chills in the single digits. While not as cold as the last dip, you'll want to bundle up! Fortunately, the cold is short-lived, as we warm into the 40s and 50s into the weekend.