Tracking a dry, hot pattern holding through the coming week

TODAY: I'm tracking a warmer start to the day, with temperatures in the low 70s walking out the door. By the afternoon hours, temperatures will jump into the mid-90s across Central Missouri, but it will feel closer to 100 degrees thanks to humidity. Some thin upper-level clouds will be present during the day as winds blow out of the southwest at 8-12 mph, gusting up to 20 mph.

TONIGHT: I'm tracking a few upper-level clouds persisting overnight, but other than that, it will be a mostly clear and quiet night. Temperatures by the end of the night will drop back down into the low to mid 70s as winds blow out of the south at 5-10 mph, gusting up to 15 mph.

EXTENDED: I'm tracking a hot and dry week ahead as temperatures each afternoon continue to warm back up into the mid to upper 90s. The humidity that will be in place will not be strong enough to drive heat index values into the extreme range, but it will still be enough to make temperatures feel near or just above 100 during the peak heating of each day. Mostly sunny conditions can be expected Monday through Thursday afternoon, with only minimal rain chances at most entering the forecast by Friday. With this will come a very gradual cooling trend, with temperatures staying closer to the low 90s by the start of next weekend.