Tracking more sun and warmth ahead of rain chances
TODAY: Tuesday is a warmer day, with sunshine and south winds. Few thin and high clouds will be present, but you'll still want the sunglasses. Winds will be from the south southwest around 10-15 mph, with minimal gusts above 15 mph. High temperatures will approach 80 in the afternoon, likely falling just short in the upper 70s for many.
TONIGHT: Showers will approach from dying storms overnight. These will drift in from the west after midnight, and make progress towards Columbia by 3-5 a.m., weakening along the way. Very little rain if any is forecast to reach Columbia, with the best totals coming in at less than a tenth of an inch through Macon, Chariton, and Saline counties. Temperatures tonight will fall into the 50s amid a generally southerly, but at times variable, south wind.
EXTENDED: Wednesday will be another warm day, as winds pick back up from the south and we see more sun through the day. This will yield another day with highs in the 70s to 80s. More storm chances return Wednesday afternoon through the night into Thursday morning. Again, this will focus in the west and northwest. It's possible that Columbia and Jefferson City avoid this rainfall. Thursday will be the day when we likely pick up rain across more of the region. A build up of moisture and instability will provide for better thunderstorm chances, but it's uncertain if we'll have the other necessary ingredients for strong storms. For now, that looks unlikely. This rain exits Friday around midday, making for a wet start to the weekend for some, but drier weather likely returns for Saturday, and possibly Sunday, although another small rain chance looms on Sunday evening.
