Temperatures rise to the 70s today, then back to 30s on Friday

The first week of spring promises some weather extremes in the Kansas City region.

Tuesday and much of Wednesday with be warm, breezy and mostly sunny with temperatures rising into the 70s, the National Weather Service says. Meanwhile a powerful spring storm system will take shape in the Plains and track across far northern Missouri and Iowa on Wednesday afternoon.

The snow likely will stay north of Kansas City, but there are chances of showers and storms across the northern half of the KC area Wednesday afternoon and evening into Thursday morning as winds pick up ahead of the storm. An accompanying cold front will drop temperatures Thursday and early Friday morning into the 30s and upper 20s.

Southerly winds return by late Friday morning leading to highs in the 50s and lower 60s, the weather service says. Another cold front is forecast to push through the KC area on Saturday with showers and thunderstorms possible Saturday night into Sunday.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 11:25 PM with the headline "Temperatures rise to the 70s today, then back to 30s on Friday."