From summerlike heat to storm risk: Kansas City faces a quick weather flip
A one-two weather punch is headed for Kansas City. Summerlike heat will build into Thursday and could break records. Then, a cold front may spark strong storms Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures will likely top out in the upper 80s on Wednesday, according to the weather service. That’s well above the average high of 59 degrees for this time of year and close to the daily record of 90 degrees set in 1907.
Temperatures will surge even higher on Thursday ahead of a cold front expected to move south into the area, the weather service said. The Kansas City area could see temperatures near 95 degrees.
“This would demolish the previous daily max record and be 2 degrees above the warmest March temperature ever for Kansas City,” the weather service said.
The daily record temperature for Thursday is 85 degrees, set in 1991. The record for the warmest March temperature was set just a few days ago, when temperatures reached 93 degrees on Saturday.
Showers and thunderstorms may develop as the cold front moves southward through the area Thursday evening and night. Storms are more likely after the front moves through, which could limit their intensity, but any storm could still produce strong wind gusts. The best storm window currently looks to be Thursday night, roughly 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The weather service urges folks to stay tuned to the forecast as the storm potential becomes clearer.
Dry air and gusty winds behind the cold front could raise the risk of grass fires and wildfires west of Interstate 35 Thursday and Friday, the weather service said.
Cooler and drier weather is expected to move into the area Friday and Saturday, with temperatures closer to normal for this time of year. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s on Sunday.
Warmer temperatures return Monday and Tuesday, with a chance of off-and-on showers and storms.
