An active weather day is expected in the region. While it will be hot and humid, mainly south of Highway 36, with heat indices around 105, that high heat may be tempered by cloud cover moving over. The bigger story will be the potential for severe thunderstorms with mainly damaging winds this afternoon and this evening. Heavy rainfall is also expected across northern MO where widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches is likely. Pockets of higher amounts are expected and rain rates could be as high as 3”/hour in the heaviest storms. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: 

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 100. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind 5 to 8 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.