Tracking the return of rain by Friday

TONIGHT: Mostly clear and not as cool, lows in the mid-40s.

TOMORROW: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers by afternoon. Highs in the mid-upper 60s.

EXTENDED: We'll kick off an unsettled pattern Friday as a decaying storm complex moves into Mid-Missouri by early afternoon. Showers will be scattered through the afternoon and evening, with more rain filling in along a warm front that will lift into the area on Saturday. Weekend temperatures will rise as this front slowly works north, but we'll have waves of rain and storms through Monday. There could be some breaks in the rain, specifically early Saturday morning and early Monday. Severe weather is not expected Saturday as there will likely be very little instability to work with until evening. A few rumbles of thunder will be possible on Saturday night, with a better chance of thunderstorms on Sunday as temperatures rise into the mid-70s. The front begins to slide south of us on Tuesday, keeping us largely dry through the day. The upper level flow will shift southwest this weekend and stay put into next week, sending more disturbances our way and keeping rain chances around through mid-late next week. Temperatures are expected to stay near our seasonal average in the mid-upper 70s during the day. Rain amounts from Friday through Monday will range from 1-2", with additional rainfall adding up to 3" in some spots by the middle of next week. We'll watch for rises on local rivers and streams into late next week.