Tracking scattered showers and a few thunderstorms Thursday
TODAY: Thursday is a wet one, with as much as an inch of rain likely to occur in some spots, especially in the west. Temperatures will start warm and remain warm as south winds bring in warmth through the day. Highs reach 60s amid a breezy south wind sustained around 10-20 mph. Gusts may reach 30-40 mph at times. This is regardless of thunderstorms, which may be gusty at times. We will have a chance for the best positioned storms this afternoon to reach severe level wind gusts and possibly an isolated tornado, but confidence is very low in this, and the overall likelihood is low. Most will see rain, moderate at times, with sporadic lightning and thunder. Rain begins in the south, spreading north through the morning. Most morning rainfall will come without much lighting or thunder, but more instability pulls in by the afternoon, generating a better chance for thunderstorms. While storms will be possible sooner, after 3 this afternoon we develop our best chance for storms. This is when we'll have the best chance for a strong storm. The area with the best chance for a strong storm will be the region southeast of Columbia and Montgomery City to Lebanon and Rolla.
TONIGHT: Strongest storm chances will come to an end around 7 p.m., leaving a chance for a few showers or weak storms into the later evening. Most of our moisture will be east of us by this time. Dry weather fills in by sunrise, but low clouds will likely linger all day on Friday. Northwest winds begin to cool us into the low 40s by sunrise.
EXTENDED: Northwest winds and cloudy skies keep us cool on Friday, with highs forecast in the mid-40s after a very meager warm-up. Saturday is cooler yet, with highs in the low 40s. A chance for light rain moves in Friday night, and transitions to snow flakes for some in the north. Minor accumulations may be possible on elevated and grassy surfaces, but widespread travel impacts are not expected. Sunshine and cool air settles in Sunday, as highs drop to the 30s. More mild air returns to lift highs to near 50 by Tuesday.
