Mild winter weather will return to the area today providing a much needed thaw. Highs today will range from near 40 across northern Missouri to the mid to upper 50 across central Missouri and east central Kansas. The warm conditions will continue for much of the area on Thursday with a cold front expected to move through the area during the day. Temperatures will range from the upper 30s across northwestern Missouri where the cold front will move through by mid-morning to the mid to upper 50s across central Missouri where the cold front won’t arrive until later in the afternoon. This cold front will usher in much colder air that will set the stage for snow on Friday. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Light and variable wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. South wind 8 to 11 mph.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Breezy, with a southwest wind 7 to 12 mph becoming north northwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. North northwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Friday: Snow, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 19. North northeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Friday Night: Snow, mainly before 7 p.m. Low around 10. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday: A chance of snow after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 24. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Snow likely before 7 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 27. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.
Washington’s Birthday: Partly sunny, with a high near 25.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13.
Tuesday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. Chance of precipitation is 40%.