The weather pattern has been on cruise control for the past several days, but we’re now headed for some bumps and twists in the road. Time to dig out the umbrellas as rain returns to the area over the next couple of days.

We’re in for another quiet and dry night, but clouds will be on the increase, especially by sunrise. Clouds will come with hints of sunshine as clouds thicken up Thursday morning. Showers will spill into the area by afternoon with scattered showers focused across Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas.

A bigger round of rain and thunderstorms will move in Thursday night. This round has the potential to produce heavy rainfall across much of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas where thunderstorms are more likely. 1 to 2″ rain totals are on tap for areas south of Hwy. 60 with locally higher amounts. Some flooding is a concern, but overall the rain is very welcome after a dry month of April.

Friday will turn drier after the morning hours with skies becoming partly cloudy and temperatures in the mid-70s with plenty of humidity and breezy south to southeast winds. Further east, clouds will be tougher to get rid of and temperatures will remain quite a bit cooler.

Weekend weather will feature an early taste of summer. Saturday could start with fog, but will quickly brighten up with sunshine and some clouds for the afternoon. Temperatures will climb to levels we haven’t seen much so far this year and humidity levels will climb too. Saturday will be a dry day for most areas, but a stray afternoon or early evening thunderstorm is possible.

Sunday will come with similar results, plenty of warmth and humidity with a chance for a few mainly afternoon thunderstorms.

Looking at next week, warm and humid air will continue to flow north into the area. Each day will also come with a risk of a few showers and thunderstorms. Severe weather chances are also expected to stay limited. Any stronger storms though could come with a risk of hail and locally strong wind gusts.