Tracking rain and storms returning late Thursday into Friday

TONIGHT: Mostly clear and not as cold with lows in the mid-upper 40s.

TOMORROW: Partly sunny with increasing clouds and highs in the upper 70s. Showers and storms begin to work in from the west southwest by late afternoon.

EXTENDED: After a beautiful Wednesday with upper high pressure in place, we're tracking a breakdown in the pattern as winds begin to shift to the southwest for the end of the week into the weekend. This will allow a disturbance to roll in late on Thursday, bringing spotty to scattered showers and storms Thursday evening, becoming more widespread through Friday. Rain and a few storms last through much of Friday afternoon, decreasing in coverage Friday night. Rain will keep temperatures in the upper 60s to around 70. Rain amounts between Thursday and Friday will be in the 1-1.5" range. Warm southwesterly winds will push in on Saturday, allowing temperatures to rise into the upper 70s to lower 80s to kick off the weekend. A warm front lifts through the area on Sunday, bringing a chance for hit and miss showers and storms with plenty of dry time in between. Temperatures will be much above average with highs in the mid-80s. Next week, the active pattern continues Monday through Wednesday as a slow moving cold front traverses the region, bringing chances for scattered showers and storms. Temperatures continue to be above average in the 80s all week, with an additional 0.5" to 1" of rain. Organized severe weather chances are still uncertain, but there may be enough instability for a few strong storms between Tuesday and Wednesday as the cold front passes through Mid-Missouri.