Tracking one last spring-like day with 60s and a chance for thunderstorms
TODAY: A Red Flag Warning is in effect nearly areawide from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, as dry and windy conditions create dangerous fire weather. Winds will be sustained at 10-20 mph, and gust to 35 mph at times. Relative humidity values are expected between 15-25% during this time frame. Any fire will spread rapidly, and burning is strongly discouraged. This comes as an area of low pressure moves through, enhancing winds. South of a warm front will come a chance for showers and storms through mid-to-late morning. Lightning is likely with this activity, so check the ABC17 Stormtrack Weather App for updates through the morning, if you're going to be outdoors. Any chance for rain will push east of the region by 11 a.m. No severe weather is expected. This afternoon, moderate to strong winds will bring dry air into the region. This is when our dangerous fire weather begins.
TONIGHT: Cool air works in behind a cold front during the evening. This brings temperatures into the 30s and 20s by daybreak Friday. Low clouds fill in overnight, and may bring some a flurry or two north of I-70. No snow accumulation is forecast.
EXTENDED: Friday is sunny and mild, with highs in the 40s, which is more typical for February. Saturday isn't any warmer. As the cold front stalls just south of mid-Missouri Friday night, there will be a disturbance along the front that will increase clouds locally overnight into Saturday. If we can get precipitation from this, it will likely fall as snow. Light snow could leave us with minor accumulations into Saturday morning, but this is relatively unlikely. No meaningful snow is expected. More sunshine is expected Sunday and Monday, but this is the coldest period of the forecast as highs are expected in the 30s. A warm-up likely returns by the middle of next week.
