Tracking storms tomorrow, widespread rain Wednesday night

TONIGHT: Mostly clear and mild early with increasing clouds overnight. Spotty showers possible by daybreak. Lows in the upper 60s to around 70.

TOMORROW: Partly to mostly cloudy with rain and storms likely. Some storms could be strong between late afternoon and evening, with a few isolated damaging wind gusts. Widespread rain expected overnight into Thursday. Highs near 90.

EXTENDED: An approaching cold front could bring showers across the northern half of Mid-Missouri through early Wednesday morning, with showers and storms filling in ahead of a cold front by late afternoon. Given the amount of cloud cover and lingering morning rain, there's only a marginal risk for a few severe storms. If storms do become severe, the main concern would be isolated 50-60 mph wind gusts from late afternoon through about sunset. Showers and storms become more widespread after dark as low level winds pick up from the southwest, sending more moisture into the region. Rain looks to continue into Thursday morning, with the focus for afternoon development across the southern half of the area as the front slowly tries to move south. We'll drier on Friday on the other side of the front, with seasonable temperatures in the upper 80s. We'll begin to warm significantly by the end of the weekend as high pressure builds in from the west off the Plains, with highs in the 90s on Saturday and Sunday. The heat index will likely exceed 100 degrees Sunday and Monday, and potentially into early next week.