Despite fall starting this week, summer temps are hanging on

Fall officially starts on Friday at 3:02 in the afternoon, but Mother Nature seems to have different plans in store for Mid-Missouri.

Average highs for fall are in the upper 70s, but as we head into the weekend we’ll see temperature nearly 15 degrees above average. It’s temperatures that will be more reminiscent of July/August and less like late September.

The warmer temperatures come as a trough digs into the Pacific Northwest, which usually means a building ridge in the East. This ridge will keep the heat and moisture locked in place across the Midwest, with heat indices each day rapidly rising into the mid to upper 90s.

While we started September off on a cooler-than-normal note, the trend ahead is that we’ll close September with above-average temperatures. This would keep temperatures at or above about 75 degrees through the end of the month.

If you’re a fan of summer, enjoy the extended summer because the warmer air could be challenged next week as a cold front tracks through the region.

Stay with ABC 17 Stormtrack as we continue to follow the heat building into Mid-Missouri and you can follow us on Twitter @ABC17Stormtrack.