Tracking a windy and hot day ahead of a chance for severe storms this afternoon

TODAY: Wednesday is an ABC17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day. A surface low, located across the northern plains this morning, will drive a complex of storms along its warm front through Iowa, northeast Missouri, and Illinois through the morning. There is a chance these storms could clip areas near HWY 36 in Mid-Missouri around 5-7 a.m. Most of the morning will be dry and warm, as brisk winds pick up by late morning and carry into the afternoon. Wind gusts may reach 40-50 mph, prompting a Wind Advisory from the National Weather Service from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for much of the region. This will boost temperatures into the upper 80s and increase our dew points into the 60s and 70s. A cold front nudges into the region this afternoon, likely triggering storms in the 3 p.m to 5 p.m window across our northern counties. These storms have prompted our Weather Alert Day, as they could quickly become severe with all threats possible. For the latest, read our ABC17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day Blog.

TONIGHT: Storms will clear through the evening, from north to south. As soon as you are on the north side of storms, the severe threat will end locally. Temperatures remain in the 60s overnight. Dewpoints fall to the 50s.

EXTENDED: Thursday will be less humid at the surface, with cooler temperatures, but moisture aloft lingers enough to promote a chance for scattered showers. Dry weather is expected Friday and Saturday, but rain chances will return Saturday evening. We may see rain in some spots by the afternoon, but rain chances are much greater late Saturday night into Sunday ahead of our next system.