Tracking the return of heat and storms Thursday

TODAY: . Humidity levels will drop a smidge this afternoon as highs reach near 90. This comes as skies remain mostly sunny through the day.

TONIGHT: Winds remain from the southwest overnight, and with clear skies, we'll start the day Thursday warm, sunny and feeling like summer with dew points near 60.

EXTENDED: Thursday starts sunny, with temperatures climbing from the upper 60s into the low-to-mid 90s by the afternoon. With dew points in the mid-60s and highs in the mid-90s, our heat index may range from 95-100 degrees. A cold front will be on it's way to deliver some relief by Thursday night, but it will bring a chance for storms with it. Storms will develop in central Iowa and push southeast. As this happens, we'll see storms fill in along the front. The environment will be supportive of hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes in the afternoon and evening, with a peak in intensity around late evening as they push into northern Missouri to about HWY 24. Upon arrival near Macon, these storms will likely be encountering a weaker environment by a couple of measures, which should contribute to weakening storms with further extent into mid-Missouri. Our severe threat is low at the moment, owing largely to the uncertainty of the atmosphere's ability to carry significantly severe storms all the way into the region. For now, we'll carry a mention of strong to severe storms for Thursday night's forecast, but more confidence is needed for an ABC17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day. Friday will see lesser humidity as the front settles just to our south. Highs are still expected near 90. Isolated storms, more heat, and humidity are all expected in the forecast through the weekend and into next week, with heat index values near 100 again over the weekend.