Tracking a windy and warmer Thursday

Heading out the door this morning, it feels like winter again. Temperatures are back in the upper 20s to low 30s across northwest Missouri.

Winds are fairly light early this morning but will increase through the day. Wind gusts could reach 35 to 40 mph, especially west of Interstate 35.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon until 9 p.m. due to strong winds and very dry conditions. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged today. Despite the wind, we’ll see mostly sunny skies with afternoon highs near 60 degrees. Tonight, temperatures cool into the low 40s. Friday will be slightly cooler, with highs in the upper 50s.

We warm up again on Saturday before rain moves in Saturday evening and continues into Sunday. Temperatures begin to fall Sunday, especially by Sunday night when lows could drop into the low teens. That brings a brief return to winter on Monday, with highs only reaching the mid-30s and chilly conditions across the region.

As colder air settles in late Sunday into Monday, we could see a mix of rain and possibly a few flurries. The good news: the cold air won’t last long. Temperatures rebound into the upper 40s by Tuesday and climb into the mid-60s by Wednesday.