Insider Blog: Tracking a few strong storms Friday as temperatures increase

A warm front lifting north across the state will bring warmer temperatures on Friday afternoon as south winds pick up during the day. Highs reach the mid-80s by late afternoon, with humid conditions expected.

With the front to our north, just about the entire state will see an increase in instability or energy we need for storms to develop. With the warm front to our north and cold front to our west, Mid-Missouri will be in what's called a "warm sector" where we could see isolated strong storms pop up by mid-late afternoon. Luckily there will be a lack of significant wind shear, or turning of winds with height. This will keep us from experiencing widespread severe weather.

However, a few storms that develop on Friday could briefly be intense with the potential of pea to quarter size hail, heavy downpours, and strong wind gusts between 50-60 mph.

Storms are most likely between mid-late afternoon and sunset. We'll lose daytime heating and instability as the sun goes down, so any severe threat will wane after about 8:00 p.m.

If you have outdoor plans, make sure to have the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather App to keep an eye on radar and the hour by hour forecast.

We're also tracking isolated to scattered storms possible over the college graduation weekend, especially on Sunday.