Tracking rounds of rain and storms to start the week

TONIGHT: Showers and storms developing after midnight with lows in the upper 50s to around 60.

TOMORROW: Morning rain and a few storms, becoming mostly cloudy and breezy. Highs in the lower 70s.

EXTENDED:  Low level winds increase overnight from the southwest, increasing moisture across the region. That will help force up a round of showers and storms generally south of I-70 before dawn, but rain will spread north throughout the morning, leaving us with some dry time during the day. Expect a breezy afternoon with wind gusts up to 30 mph from the south and temperatures reaching the lower 70s. As a cold front works its way in from the northwest Tuesday night into Wednesday, another round of rain and a few storms will be possible into Wednesday morning. Given the timing, the parameters for severe weather are low, but a few storms could produce brief heavy rain and gusty winds up to 30 mph. Rain looks to exit early in the day, leaving us with a cool breeze and highs reaching near 70 on Wednesday afternoon. The rest of the week is cooler with temperatures reaching the lower 60s on Thursday, and if we remain clear with light winds on Thursday night we may see some patchy frost with temperatures dropping into the upper 30s. The weekend starts off warmer with high temperatures making it to the mid-70s, but another weak front moves in by afternoon, bringing the potential for a bit more rain and cooling us into the 60s again for Sunday. Rain amounts will range from about 0.5" to 1" but we could see locally higher amounts where we have thunderstorms over the next few days. Any rain will be much needed as we're about 3.1" below normal since September 1 in Columbia.