Tracking Thursday sunshine and weekend heat
Cooler and less humid weather is settling into northwest Missouri and northeastern Kansas Thursday, offering a brief break from the summer heat before temperatures climb back into the 90s this weekend.
Patchy fog developed across parts of the region Thursday morning, with some reduced visibility near the river in St. Joseph. However, widespread visibility problems were not expected like those seen Wednesday.
Temperatures Thursday morning were in the low to middle 60s, several degrees cooler than Wednesday and accompanied by lower humidity.
A high-pressure system moving into the region will keep conditions mostly sunny and dry throughout Thursday. Temperatures will warm quickly, reaching the upper 70s to lower 80s around lunchtime before climbing into the low to middle 80s during the afternoon.
The high Thursday is expected to reach about 85 degrees, close to seasonal averages. Dew points in the lower 60s will also make for a noticeably more comfortable day compared with Wednesday.
Temperatures will fall Thursday night, with some additional cloud cover possible heading into Friday morning.
Friday will remain relatively comfortable, with a high near 86 degrees and humidity levels still lower than earlier in the week. Southerly winds will begin returning, signaling the start of a warming trend.
The heat will become more noticeable this weekend as an upper-level ridge shifts east and southerly winds bring increasing moisture back into the region. Highs are expected to return to the low and middle 90s.
Humidity will also increase, with dew points climbing into the upper 60s Saturday and potentially into the lower 70s Sunday.
By Sunday and Monday, heat index values could reach between 100 and 105 degrees across much of the area. Monday is currently expected to be the hottest day, with temperatures potentially reaching the middle to upper 90s.
Forecasters are monitoring the potential for heat-related headlines early next week as increasing humidity could push more locations toward heat index values near 105 degrees. The hottest conditions are expected Tuesday and Wednesday, particularly south of the Missouri River.
Rain chances remain limited through the forecast period, with any precipitation next week mainly favored across far northern Missouri.
For now, Thursday and Friday will provide a brief stretch of seasonable, less humid weather before the heat and humidity return.
