Tracking Friday sunshine and weekend rain chances

— Friday will bring a quiet and comfortable end to the workweek across St. Joseph and northwest Missouri, but rain and thunderstorms return to the forecast this weekend.

Areas of dense fog are possible early Friday morning, especially across parts of Missouri. The fog should gradually dissipate within a few hours after sunrise, giving way to mostly dry conditions for the rest of the day.

Temperatures will warm into the low to middle 80s Friday with a mix of sunshine and clouds. Overall, it should be a pleasant day across the area.

The weather turns more unsettled late Friday night and Saturday as a system moves across the Central Plains. Showers and thunderstorms could develop Saturday afternoon and continue into Saturday night.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the area under a Marginal Risk for severe weather Saturday afternoon into the overnight hours. Strong winds and hail will be the primary threats if storms become severe.

There is still some uncertainty regarding exactly when and where storms will develop Saturday. Some storms could form during the afternoon, while additional storms may develop Saturday evening or overnight as a stronger weather system moves through the region.

Storm chances could linger into Sunday, with additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms possible into early next week.

Looking ahead, the pattern is expected to become increasingly active next week, with multiple opportunities for rain and thunderstorms. Some areas could see several rounds of rain, increasing the potential for heavy rainfall. However, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding where the heaviest rain will occur.

For now, enjoy the cooler and more seasonable temperatures Friday before a more active weather pattern settles in for the weekend and next week.