Tracking cold temperatures & weekend sunshine

It’s a chilly start across northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas, with temperatures in the 40s this morning. Breezy northwesterly winds are making it feel even colder, with wind chills in the 30s. Wind gusts could reach 30 to 35 mph today, so be sure to grab a jacket and dress in layers before heading out the door.

Temperatures will struggle to warm up today, with highs only reaching the low to mid-50s under mostly cloudy skies. Winds will gradually calm this evening as high pressure moves into the region, allowing skies to clear and temperatures to drop quickly overnight.

A Frost Advisory and Freeze Watch are in effect for portions of the region late tonight into Saturday morning. Temperatures could fall into the low to mid-30s, with some northern areas potentially reaching or dropping below freezing. The alerts expire at 9 a.m. Saturday. Be sure to cover sensitive outdoor plants or bring them indoors to protect them from the cold as we approach the first potential freeze of the season.

Despite the chilly start, sunshine returns Saturday, with highs climbing into the upper 50s to low 60s. We’ll see even warmer conditions Sunday, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid to upper 60s.

The warming trend continues into next week as dry conditions persist. Highs will reach the upper 60s to low 70s Monday before climbing into the mid-70s to mid-80s by Thursday and Friday. Our next slight chance for rain arrives late next week, but most of the week looks quiet and dry.