Strong storms possible late tonight

9 PM THU. UPDATE: The newest Threat Tracker continues the Slight Severe Risk for Pettis and Benton counties where there is a slightly higher chance of storms with damaging wind or large hail. Some of the eastern and northern Mid-Missouri counties have been taken out of the Marginal Risk. The severe threat is expected to decrease through the night as storms move east. Storms will move into our western counties around 10 PM and to the HWY 63 corridor 11pm to midnight.

ORIGINAL POST: A strong cold front continues to sink south from Iowa Thursday, bringing a chance for measurable rain and strong thunderstorms late Thursday evening.

Showers and storms out ahead of the front are forecast to move into western Mid-Missouri between 8-10 PM, through the I-70 corridor between 10-12 AM, and further south of Highway 54 after midnight.

Due to the amount of instability in the atmosphere and ample wind shear, some storms could reach severe limits. All of Mid-Missouri is under a marginal (lowest category) severe risk for Thursday evening, with a slight risk for areas along and west of Highway 65.

Some of these storms could bring damaging winds and embedded large hail. Rainfall amounts will be highest west of Highway 63, with 0.5″ to 1″ possible through early Friday afternoon.

Behind the front, there may be some lingering scattered thunderstorms through late afternoon Friday, with rain ending near I-44 after 1-3 PM.

Skies will likely be dry for high school football games Friday night, with temperatures dropping like a rock as high pressure builds at the surface, and the jet stream drives south through the weekend.

High temperatures Friday top out in the low 70s, with lows in the upper 40s Saturday and Sunday morning.

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