Tracking near record highs early next week, storms by Tuesday

TONIGHT: Mostly clear and cool with lows in the mid-40s.

TOMORROW: Mostly sunny and breezy with highs in the upper 70s.

EXTENDED: Strong southwest winds will push temperatures to near record highs on Monday and Tuesday as we get into the upper 70s to about 80. Tuesday could be slightly warmer depending on cloud coverage as a warm front lifts to the north early in the day. Record highs in Columbia are 80 and 82 for Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The focus for severe storms on Tuesday will be near the stalled front to our north across the Missouri-Iowa border. The main concern will storms will be very large hail initially, shifting to a heavy rain event overnight in this zone. Rain amounts could range between 1-2.5" through Wednesday afternoon. Strong winds and tornadoes are possible in a few of the storms, but will be less numerous. We'll be cooler behind the passage of a cold front on Wednesday as highs struggle to get to 60 degrees early and fall throughout the day. Thursday is seasonably cool and sunny with highs in the mid-upper 50s. We'll end the week on a pleasant note with temperatures getting into the mid-60s on Friday ahead of another cold front that could bring rain chances later in the weekend.