Tracking near record warmth and a few chances at rain
TODAY: It's been a breezy 24 hours with some winds gusting as high as 30-40 mph. These winds have warmed us well above normal, where we still are early Thursday. Today's high will continue to reap the benefits of this south wind, topping out in the upper 60s. 70 degrees is NOT out of the question. Today will likely be record breaking for December 29th, as the record is 67 set in 1984. Today's forecast for Columbia is 68. Winds continue to remain gusty, sustained around 15-20 mph, gusting to 30+ ahead of a cold front that will arrive around dinner. This cold front brings a slim chance at a shower generally east of HWY 63. Most will likely stay dry.
TONIGHT: Behind the cold front, temperatures reset back into the 30s for early Friday, with clouds sticking around.
EXTENDED: A light north breeze and cloudy skies keep temperatures in the 40s for highs on Friday. The weekend arrives a tad warmer with winds shifting back from the south by Saturday. Highs on Saturday climb into the 50s on Saturday. The cold front that passes on Thursday night will stall to our southeast, and remain just southeast of us. An impulse along the boundary may bump rain chances for those to our east on Saturday morning, bringing a slim chance of showers early to those along and east of a line from Ft. Leonard Wood to Montgomery City. Overall, most of us stay dry through Sunday, where winds are still southerly, and blowing in warm air and more moisture. This amplifies on Monday as temperatures are set to bump back into the 60s ahead of a chance for rain and thunder. A cold front looks to bring widespread rainfall and thunder to the area Monday afternoon and or Monday night. Severe weather is not ruled out yet, but looks unlikely at this point. Cooler, more seasonable air returns by the middle of next week, with highs in the 40s back in the forecast.
