March-like weather on tap for Kansas City’s weekend

Don’t look at the calender. Just enjoy the weather this weekend.

With highs expected in the low- to upper-50s this weekend, it’s going to feel more like the second or third week in March, the National Weather Service says.

Mild temperatures are likely to continue into next week, with highs reaching near 60, if not into the 60s, by midweek.

That will be about 25 degrees above normal, according to the National Weather Service.

Friday will be mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s.

There is a slight elevated fire danger fire danger Friday afternoon because of dry conditions, warm temperatures and moderate southwest winds between 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday will also be mostly sunny, with highs reaching into the upper 40s to upper 50s.

Although Sunday will be mostly cloudy, highs are likely to be in the upper 40s to mid-50s.

A clipper system is expected to pass north of the Kansas City area, bringing a 20 percent chance of showers across northern Missouri on Sunday morning.

Kansas City has less than a 10 percent chance of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.

For those wondering if the lack of snow this winter means that the rest of the winter will stay that way, the National Weather Service answered that question on its Facebook page.

Looking at all winters where Kansas City had less than 5 inches of snow through Jan. 31, the National Weather Service said the lack of snow doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

In fact, in the 2011-2012 winter season, 3.5 inches inches of snow fell after Jan. 31.

And in the 2012-2013 winter season, 4.7 inches of snow had fallen by Jan. 31. After that date: 27.1 inches.

People who are looking forward to spring will take comfort in knowing that the coldest period for Kansas City typically is between Jan. 10 and 22, according to the National Weather Service.

“Today is the 23rd so let the long, gradual warmup being!” the National Weather Service said on Twitter.

This story was originally published January 23, 2015 at 9:50 AM with the headline "March-like weather on tap for Kansas City’s weekend."