Tracking a cool and gloomy start to the week

all-like weather is settling into northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas this week, with cooler temperatures, a few light rain chances and several days of dry weather before rain returns late in the week.

Monday will start the week on a cloudy and cool note. Fog is possible during the morning, and areas of light rain, drizzle or sprinkles could develop, particularly before noon.

The rain is expected to remain light, with activity diminishing through the afternoon. However, lingering low-level moisture could keep skies mostly cloudy into Monday evening.

Temperatures will remain noticeably cooler than the recent warmth, with highs generally in the upper 60s to lower 70s across the region.

The cooler pattern continues Tuesday and Wednesday as high pressure settles over the region. Both days are expected to be mostly dry, with highs in the upper 60s across areas along and north of Highway 36 and lower 70s farther south.

Overnight temperatures will also feel more like fall, with lows dropping into the lower 50s for much of the region. Communities near the Iowa border could see temperatures fall into the upper 40s.

The next chance for rain arrives late Thursday and continues into Friday as another weather system moves toward the region. Current forecasts indicate a 30% to 40% chance for measurable rainfall, with western Missouri and eastern Kansas favored for rain activity initially.

Rain chances could spread farther east across Missouri through the weekend.

Temperatures are expected to rebound somewhat toward the end of the week, with highs reaching the mid-70s Thursday and Friday. Some forecast guidance shows the possibility of temperatures returning to the 80s next weekend, although confidence remains lower because additional clouds and rain could limit the warm-up.

For northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas, the week ahead will feature a noticeable shift toward cooler, more fall-like weather, followed by another round of rain late Thursday into Friday.