Shake it off, KC: Sunshine and 60s likely by Saturday

The Kansas City weather roller coaster ride will continue this week as those of us who woke up to icy roads and single-digit temperatures on Thursday morning can plan on basking in 60-degree sunshine by Saturday.

Meanwhile, long-range forecasts predict a milder start to spring in Missouri and Kansas but an increase in severe weather nationwide.

The cold will linger Thursday with highs only reaching the 20s and lower 30s, but the National Weather Service says much warmer weather is on the way. Temperatures will rapidly warm Friday into Saturday under mostly sunny skies.

Friday is forecast to be mostly sunny with highs in the lower 50s and a southwest breeze of 10 to 15 mph. And Saturday will be mostly sunny with highs in the lower 60s and southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph.

AccuWeather predicts a more volatile severe weather season this year as more widespread warm air will prompt unstable conditions across the United States.

The number of spring severe weather events has been below normal for the past couple of years, especially the number of tornadoes.

On average, around 1,300 tornadoes hit the United States each year, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

Since 2012, the United States has averaged around 900 tornadoes per year.

“We’ve had slow starts with stable air hanging around longer through the spring season. This year’s a little different,” said AccuWeather.com lead long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok.

Warmer air will be more widespread across the country this season, increasing the instability of the atmosphere.

“I think we’re going to have a lot more tornadoes for the spring season compared to the last couple of years, with it really picking up as we get into April and May in the more traditional areas down south.”

However, drier air could hold back the severe weather in Kansas and Missouri.

“We’re looking farther east than west,” Pastelok said.

This story was originally published February 5, 2015 at 10:32 AM with the headline "Shake it off, KC: Sunshine and 60s likely by Saturday."