Tracking return of stifling heat and repeat storm chances

After a pleasant start to the week, the return of summer-like weather is looming with heat, humidity, and storms all in the forecast for the weekend and beyond.

Moisture is beginning to creep back into the region as high pressure builds to our south in the upper levels of the atmosphere. This will allow southwesterly winds to really ramp up on Friday, getting temperatures into the low 90s for highs. With dew points getting in the tropical 70 degree range, we'll see heat indices rising into the mid-90s Friday. The amount of heat and humidity will allow the atmosphere to become more unstable, but without much forcing to work with, the afternoon will stay dry.

A cold front to our north will trigger a line of strong thunderstorms across Iowa and northern Illinois by late afternoon through early evening, and it will eventually slide south into Mid-Missouri late Friday night into Saturday morning. Storms will move in likely after midnight north of Highway 24, then progress south overnight. Right now it appears storms will be on a weakening trend as they enter our area, but if the timing speeds up a bit, there could be some stronger clusters of storms with heavy rain, frequent lightning, and potentially isolated damaging winds.

The main line of showers and storms pushes south late Saturday morning, leaving us a few degrees cooler with more clouds in the afternoon. Scattered showers and storms may redevelop by late afternoon into the evening, but those are not expected to be severe.

The front retreats back north into Sunday, keeping us somewhat dry and much warmer by afternoon. Highs on Sunday get into the low 90s with heat indices in the upper 90s. A few storms are possible Sunday evening.

Heat and humidity continue into next week, with daily storm chances as multiple disturbances move in.