Soaking rains and low visibilities greeted the Ozarks this morning. The rain was confined to areas along and south of I-44, while foggy weather blanketed areas to the north. The rain was tough to clear out this morning but finally edged out of the Ozarks by late afternoon. Sunshine filled in behind the departing storm sending temperatures into the 70s over Western Missouri and Northwest Arkansas.
A cold front has slipped across the area this evening. Gusty winds have come with the front, but the winds will subside and skies will clear later tonight. Temperatures by morning will slip into the 40s under clear skies.
The chilly morning temperatures will warm nicely under sunny skies with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s. Winds will remain in check with a light breeze out of the northwest.
The next storm will begin spreading clouds into the Ozarks Friday night with a wave of showers moving through Saturday morning. Clouds should give way to some sun Saturday afternoon with temperatures warming into the 70s. The warmth will come with wind as a powerful storm passes by to the north. Gusts of 35 to 45 mph are possible.
Chilly air will slip back into the Ozarks in the wake of a cold front Saturday night with morning lows in the upper 30s to low 40s Sunday. Sunday will be a mild day with sun and clouds and afternoon highs in the 60s.
The pattern turns stormy next week. The jet stream will bend south across the Western U.S. with a southwest flow developing over the midsection of the country. At the surface a cold front will stall with waves of showers and thunderstorms developing along the front. This looks like a set-up for heavy rainfall with general rain amounts of 2 to 4″ possible throughout the week. Locally higher amounts can’t be ruled out. A flash flooding risk may develop and we’ll also have to keep an eye on chances for severe weather depending on where the front winds up from day to day.