TODAY: Thursday will be dry and bright, with only partly cloudy skies along a warm front moving into the region. Thanks to this front, Thursday will be warmer than Wednesday and we should expect highs in the mid to upper 70s.

TONIGHT: The warm front mentioned above is preceded by a cold front that arrives after 9 p.m. this evening. This front brings the risk of thunderstorms throughout the area, but especially along and north of I-70. The chance of rain is better in Columbia than in Jefferson City, but significantly better in Moberly and Macon. The storms are strongest in the west and weaken as they move east. There is borderline support for gusty winds as these storms arrive in the far west, but the threat of hail may linger a little longer into the overnight hours. However, our hail threat is expected to be isolated and only the strongest storms will occur.

EXTENDED: Storms will end by 7 a.m. Friday morning. However, some low stratus clouds are likely to linger behind the front and these may produce drizzle or showers until midday. Otherwise, Friday will be partly to mostly cloudy and dry, with a high in the low 70s. Temperatures will cool as the weekend progresses, with highs expected to be in the 60s on Saturday and Sunday, with coolest temperatures being in the 40s on Sunday morning. From here we’ll warm back into the 80s next week.