Thunderstorms likely Thursday night, as KC gets back to reality of August heat
After a brief break this week from the summer heat, Kansas City will be reminded Thursday that it’s still August.
“It’s back to reality for today with the heat and humidity returning to our forecast,” said FOX4 meteorologist Karli Ritter in a weather update for The Star. “We are expecting afternoon temperatures to climb up into the upper 80s this afternoon.”
When you factor in the humidity, temperatures will feel like the 90s. It will also be sticky.
There’s also a possibility of a few spotty showers after the lunch hour, Ritter said.
“These will be so isolated in nature that most of us won’t see a drop of rain,” she said.
But that will change Thursday night.
“We will get through the late evening hours without an issue, but after midnight, rain and thunderstorms return, becoming very widespread,” Ritter said. “They will linger all the way through daybreak tomorrow.”
The lingering storms could impact Friday morning’s commute.
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The Star produced this weather update in partnership with the local FOX4 television station. The station’s meteorologists create forecast videos multiple times a day for the newspaper to include in its weather reports.
The primary threats from the storms overnight will be strong winds and flash flooding, according to the National Weather in Pleasant Hill.
Wind gusts between 40 and 60 mph will be common across northern Missouri. Closer to the Kansas City area, wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph will be likely. Heavy rains could also bring isolated flash flooding in some areas.
Frequent lightning and heavy downpours are also expected from the storms, according to the weather service.
A more “fall-like” weather patterns emerges for early September with below normal temperatures. Above normal precipitation is likely through at least Sept. 11, according to an extended outlook from the weather service.
This story was originally published August 29, 2019 at 6:37 AM.
