Today will start out with some left over clouds and possible showers over northwest Missouri from storms overnight in Kansas and Nebraska. These clouds are expected to clear out by late morning allowing temperatures to climb into the upper 80s which will be a key ingredient to storm formation in the afternoon. A cold front will move into the region in the late afternoon from the northwest which will help trigger and be the focal point for storms in the afternoon. The formation of these storms is conditional on temperatures reaching into the upper 80s before this cold front moves through and, as of right now, this seems on track. The storms will initially form up between Kansas City and St. Joseph and could become strong to severe very rapidly so the need to have good weather situational awareness in the afternoon is imperative. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: 

Today A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 62. West northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 68. Light south southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 83.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.