Tracking a soaker of a week ahead of a toasty weekend

TODAY: High temperatures are again expected near 80 degrees, with chances for showers and thunderstorms as weak south winds shift to the west by late morning, and from the north for some by the evening. Coverage of showers and storms is uncertain as the approaching cold front that drives rain chances looks increasingly weak, likely leaving plenty of dry time for much of the day. Still, if you have outdoor plans, rain chances increase late morning into the afternoon and will include potential for lightning, so check the ABC17 Stormtrack Weather App for updates.

TONIGHT: As the front stalls, it will leave us with chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Location and coverage of rainfall are uncertain and will depend on where the front stalls.

EXTENDED: It's likely that we start Thursday warm, in the 60s, much like Wednesday morning. However, rain chances are much higher as the stationary front that is likely over the region will prompt at least isolated to potentially widely scattered rain and thunderstorms from the morning through the afternoon. By the afternoon, an upper-level wave will be moving along the stationary front. This will serve to enhance coverage and intensity of rainfall. This threatens flooding where the ground is saturated from ongoing rain. As the front stalls somewhere over Mid-Missouri, severe weather is not totally out of the question, but the threat is questionable, and best across the lake of the Ozarks. Rain chances continue Friday and Saturday, before this front lifts north over the weekend. This is expected to push rain chances out of the region, only for them to be replaced by warm and muggy conditions. Highs in the 90s and heat indexes in the low 100s are expected. Some in the region may see as much as 3-4 inches of rain. For more details, read our ABC17 Stormtrack Insider Blog.