Tracking a warm afternoon before a cooldown this weekend

TODAY: Thursday is more summer like with highs back in the upper 80s and heat index values in the same range. Some pop up showers may be possible near I-44 after 7 p.m. but most are unlikely to see rain.

TONIGHT: A cold front arriving from the north overnight, may bring a chance for very light rain as soon as 7-11 p.m. in Chariton and Macon counties, but likely delay until after 10 p.m. for Columbia and Jefferson City. This is IF we can get rain on the leading edge of the front. It's beginning to look like we wont in many places, and may have to wait for trailing showers behind the leading edge of the front, which would push it back closer to 3-7 a.m.

EXTENDED: Temperatures will remain in the 60s through sunrise, but as showers pass and skies clear, we only rebound into the mid-70s by Friday afternoon. Overnight and morning showers only amount to about a tenth of an inch at best, with most staying essentially dry. Dry is the theme going forward, with dry skies and dry air, with cooler temperatures along side. Highs fall into the low 70s Saturday and Sunday, before climbing back into the low 80s by the middle of next week. Notably, lows are forecast in the 40s Sunday morning