Tracking a hot and humid weekend with growing rain chances

TODAY: Thursday will likely remain dry for most, but there is a low chance for storms today. There is low confidence in this forecast as it largely depends on how activity develops to our north. As I write this, storms have just gotten started near Des Moines. Given the southeast trajectory we expect this to take, this may be too far east to put it on a collision course with us, but we'll continue to watch development up north as it may bring some rain and clouds in a similar manner to what we saw on Wednesday. Temperatures are likely reaching the low 90s, with heat indexes settling in the upper 90s. Of course, rain will cool both of these numbers.

TONIGHT: Skies should become mostly clear overnight, with lows settling in the 70s by Friday at sunrise. Winds remain from the south.

EXTENDED: Southerly flow keeps us warm and muggy into the weekend. Friday and Saturday are likely dry, with highs in the low 90s and heat indexes reaching upper 90s to low 100s. By Saturday night, we're getting closer to a surface low pressure and associated boundary to our west that will amplify our low level winds. Each night, these low level winds will ramp up, likely stirring chances for showers and storms. This will be mostly west of us Saturday night, but chances will grow Sunday into Monday as the boundary lingers nearby. Rain will likely be hit and miss, but it may be enough to cool temperatures Sunday and Monday into the 80s. Odds are increasing that this will linger through Tuesday, but we may see it lift north again by Wednesday, climbing temperatures once more.