Tracking likely record heat on Thursday followed by evening rain and storms

TONIGHT: Mostly clear and comfortable with lows in the lower to mid-60s.

TOMORROW: Mostly sunny and windy with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Most area records will be threatened by late afternoon.

EXTENDED: Our warmest March day ever could be on tap for parts of Mid-Missouri on Thursday as highs could top 90 degrees in many spots by late afternoon as high pressure builds in. The record high in Columbia is 86, while Jefferson City's record sits at 87. We'll have a strong atmospheric cap in place throughout the day, keeping a lid on storm development for most of the area. If the cap happens to erode, there's a level 1/5 risk for a few strong storms ahead of a cold front that will bring more widespread rain late in the evening. Most of us stay dry all day, with rain moving in late from the north. A few embedded thunderstorms could bring up to 1" hail, but the overnight severe threat is very low. We're chillier behind the front on Friday with highs topping out in the mid-50s once clouds clear. The weekend is looking pleasant as temperatures rise into the upper 50s to near 60 on Saturday, and near 70 again by Sunday. Next week starts off quite mild with highs approaching 80 on Monday and a chance for storms by evening. The overall pattern is looking warm and wet heading into the holiday weekend.