KC gets a midweek break. A warmer, stickier — and stormier — stretch is next
A calm, cooler Wednesday will be Kansas City’s breather before heat and humidity surge back by Friday, fueling repeated thunderstorm chances, some possibly severe, into early next week, the National Weather Service said.
Although cooler, temperatures on Wednesday are still expected to climb to around 78 degrees, which is slightly above the average of 74 degrees for this date in Kansas City.
But the break won’t last long, as the chance for isolated to scattered showers and a few thunderstorms returns Thursday morning. No severe weather is expected.
Temperatures on Thursday are expected to be near 80 degrees.
“More widespread storms, with better chances for strong to severe storms, will develop late Thursday evening and overnight,” the weather service said in its forecast discussion.
A small weather system will move across the Central Plains on Thursday, helping spark storms. As warm, moist air moves in, dew points — a measure of humidity — will rise into the upper 50s to lower 60s, making storms more likely in central and eastern Kansas.
As the storms move east, they could merge into a larger complex. However, they should weaken the farther east they track. Still, a few storms could remain strong to severe, with damaging winds the main threat as they move east.
The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, has placed parts of central and eastern Kansas under a slight risk (Level 2 of 5) of severe weather. The Kansas City area, and most of Missouri, are under a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5).
Warmer and more humid weather moves in on Friday and lingers through the weekend. Temperatures are expected to be around 90 degrees on Friday and Saturday, and in the upper 80s on Sunday.
There will be another chance for severe storms on Friday, with large hail and damaging winds possible. There is a 15% to 30% chance of strong to severe storms in the afternoon and evening.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of the Kansas City area under a slight risk (Level 2 of 5) of severe weather.
There is a chance for more storms over the weekend, with the highest risk of severe weather likely west of the Kansas City area. The best chances for severe weather are Saturday evening into Sunday, Sunday evening into Monday, and late Monday afternoon into the evening, the weather service said.
The weather service said there is uncertainty in the forecast, “but given it’s over the weekend, being weather aware and keeping track of the latest forecast will be crucial.”
