Tracking widespread rain and storms overnight into Thursday
TONIGHT: Light showers increase across the entire area, becoming steady with embedded rumbles of thunder. Lows in the low 50s.
TOMORROW: Steady rain and storms through midday, mostly cloudy. Isolated storms possible by late afternoon and evening. Highs in the mid-60s.
EXTENDED: The first round of showers moving into Mid-Missouri will start to lose steam and dissipate as it moves into a drier air mass early this evening, but low level winds will increase late tonight and bring in more of that moisture to build up rain and storms overnight. Showers and a few storms will be ongoing through midday Thursday, with a potential break in the activity by midday. If we get a long enough break and even perhaps a little sunshine, temperatures could make it to the mid-60s. Instability for a second round of storms will be limited, but if they do develop by early evening we could have some isolated 40-50 mph winds and small hail in one or two of the storms. The highest threat for severe tomorrow will be across central and southern Arkansas and into eastern Texas where the wind and tornado potential are much higher. As low pressure moves overhead tomorrow night into Friday, we'll still have a shot at lingering wrap-around showers and clouds on Friday, keeping temperatures in the lower 60s. Rain totals will be around 2-3" between now and Friday, so some local flooding will be possible in typically flood-prone areas. Rivers will rise, but not to flood stage. High pressure begins to ramp up across the eastern Plains and the Midwest this weekend, pulling in much warmer air for the next several days, and keeping rain at a minimum, depending on where the edge of the ridge sets up. Right now that looks like it will be just to our west, mitigating rain through at least Sunday afternoon, and wavering close to our area next week. Given that variability, we'll keep a low chance for rain/storms each day into early next week, but the potential looks low with that upper level high locked in. High temperatures climb to near 90 degrees Monday through Wednesday, with better rain chances possibly by next weekend.
