Tracking near record heat, with a chance at evening storms

TODAY: Heat and humidity are both amplified this afternoon. Expect mostly sunny skies with heat index values in the low triple digits Tuesday. Temperatures are forecast in the upper 90s, which will challenge records. Around 7pm or later, storms may fire along a cold front near our northwestern counties. Storms will generally be scattered in the vicinity of Macon, Chariton, and Saline counties at first. An isolated storm or two may produce gusty winds and/or some small hail. These storms are expected to be slow movers along the front, and will likely weaken considerably as the sun goes down. Some thunderstorm activity may make it to I-70, but it should be west of Boonville.

TONIGHT: Clouds will fill the skies overnight, with some lingering showers hanging on north of I-70. A few rumbles of thunder may remain, but most of the thunderstorm element will diminish overnight.

EXTENDED: By early Wednesday, temperatures are still warm; in the mid-70s. Moisture lingering behind the cold front will likely bring showers and rumbles of thunder throughout Wednesday morning, before drier weather settles in Wednesday night. Highs on Wednesday will still climb into the upper 80s, but dewpoints are expected to fall into the 50s behind the front. Making it a more comfortable day. High pressure slides in overnight into Thursday, making for a mostly dry day in the upper 80s. Thursday night, a chance for showers and storms may try to squeeze in. This activity may linger into Friday morning. Heat and humidity build back this weekend. Friday and Saturday bring us temps in the 90s, with dewpoints in the mid-60s, so we'll need to watch for potentially dangerous heat index values once again. The good news is that another cold front looks slated to slide into mid-Missouri by Saturday night, cooling things for early next week.