Tracking a warmer Thursday, big weekend cool down

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with a few flurries. Lows in the low to mid-20s.

TOMORROW: Mostly cloudy and cold to start with warmer temperatures by afternoon. Highs in the lower 40s.

EXTENDED: Clouds linger despite high pressure in place on Thursday, but a south breeze should warm temperatures up into the lower to mid-40s. A fast-moving clipper system could bring snow showers to our northeast, but most of us miss out on that action as accumulation stays up into Illinois. We'll be chilly on Friday with highs in the upper 30s ahead of another arctic air mass to settle in for the weekend. A Weather Alert Day will go into effect late Saturday night through early Sunday for the potential of low temperatures dropping below 10 degrees and wind chills falling below zero on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Snow showers are possible across far northern and northeastern Missouri, potentially clipping locations from about Kirksville down to Mexico and points northeast. Some of the forecast upper air data is indicating we may see some freezing drizzle on Saturday night if we can pull enough moisture to the surface, but there looks to be a healthy amount of dry air aloft to keep much of an impact at bay. Sunday looks quite cold despite sunshine and highs in the low 20s. Next week is warmer with a mild pattern settling in that carries into Christmas week. We could reach near 50 degrees by Wednesday with low rain chances in the forecast.