Tracking another fall-like day ahead of shower chances Friday

TODAY: Thursday is another bright and mild day with highs maxing out in the low-to-mid 70s under mostly sunny skies.

TONIGHT: Some clouds return overnight, keeping temperatures slightly warmer than they've been the past few mornings, but still likely in the 50s. It'll be a cool evening Thursday and a chilly start Friday.

EXTENDED: Winds on Thursday are from the southeast at their southern-most extent. By Friday, winds turn from the south ahead of an approaching cold front. Despite increasing clouds, temperatures will try to get back into the upper 70s to low 80s. However, rain chances along the front will add some uncertainty to the temperature forecast. If we can get showers and weak thunderstorms to develop on Friday morning, this will keep highs in the 60s. We will have our best chances for rain in our northwestern communities, where rain chances are close to 30-40% by sunrise. Rain chances arrive in Columbia and Jefferson City by mid-to-late morning, at about 20-30%. To the southeast, rain chances fall quickly. Rain tapers Friday night, and most look dry for Friday night football, but we have clouds lingering through Friday night into Saturday morning. Saturday looks to start mostly cloudy before sunshine breaks out during the afternoon. These clouds look dry, and there's currently no chance for rain. Temperatures will be in the low 70s at Kickoff vs. Alabama at Faurot, with highs now looking like they will only reach mid-to-upper 70s by the end of the game. After a Saturday in the 70s, the warm front that creates Saturday's clouds will move north. This allows for more sun and warmer temperatures in general on Sunday. Highs may reach mid-80s on Sunday. Increasing clouds and slight rain chances are forecast for Monday and Tuesday, with highs near 80.