Tracking the return of rain and a few storms Wednesday

TONIGHT: Clouds increase as low pressure approaches the area, keeping temperatures in the lower 60s. A few showers are possible after midnight, becoming more widespread by morning.

TOMORROW: Scattered showers and storms likely. Mostly cloudy with highs in the mid-70s.

EXTENDED: A small scale low pressure system skirts across southern and southeast Missouri tomorrow, bringing scattered showers and a few storms to much of Mid-Missouri through tomorrow evening. Severe weather isn't expected, but places that see a storm or two could end up with up to 1" of rain. Elsewhere, rain ranges between 0.5" and 0.75". Showers exit early Thursday, however, there will still be enough lift from the low level jet stream to force up a few showers between Thursday and Friday during the day. A warm front lifts across the area on Saturday, allowing the environment to get a little bit more unstable ahead of a cold front that is expected to cut across Mid-Missouri between Saturday night and Sunday, bringing needed rainfall to the region. A few of the storms along the front could be severe in this time frame, and the Storm Prediction Center already has a highlighted region to watch over the weekend across northwest Mid-Missouri. Weekend rain totals will be in the 1-2" range, with lingering showers possible Sunday into Monday. Temperatures will also be cooler for the rest of the week with highs in the low to mid-70s tomorrow, and upper 70s to around 80 Thursday and Friday.