Grab that rain gear and umbrella as you head out the door Tuesday because thunderstorms loom over the Kansas City area, according to the National Weather Service.

Off-and-on showers and thunderstorms are expected across the metro area as a cold front sags southward across the region, the weather service said in its forecast discussion .

As the morning rush hour was underway, storms moved over parts of Kansas City’s Northland and areas to the north, prompting storm warnings for areas just north of the metro.

“Good morning, folks,” the weather service said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We’ve got some feisty storms at the moment in the St. Joseph, MO, to Atichison, KS area.”

The storms produced hail up to a quarter-sized and wind gusts up to 60 mph. The weather service said some areas saw heavy rainfall as the storms moved east at around 30 mph.

I n a later tweet, the weather service said storms south of St. Joseph were producing heavy rains , with some areas reporting a quick 1.5 inches in about 30 minutes.

“Be prepared for localized flooding, and avoid flooded roads,” the weather service said.

The weather service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Kansas City area until 1 p.m.

Intermittent showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout the day and into Wednesday morning. The timing of the storms is uncertain, but any that develop could pack a punch.

“If storms are able to develop, a few could be strong, producing gusty winds,” the weather service said. Heavy rainfall will also be possible, primarily from Clinton to Boonville.

What about the heat and humidity in KC?

With the cold front moving into the area, the metro will see a cooler day, although it will remain warm.

Temperatures will be in the upper 80s, which is typical for this time of year. Despite the cooler temperatures, heat index values may still reach 100 degrees in the afternoon for areas south of the Kansas City metro.

Much cooler temperatures, along with lower humidity, arrive Wednesday and continue into the weekend, bringing much-needed respite from recent dangerously hot and muggy weather.

Temperatures are expected to be in the low 80s through Friday.

Storms to return in weekend forecast

Looking ahead to the weekend, storm chances might return.

“Chances of storms return to the region this weekend as a series of disturbances funnel into the Upper Midwest,” the weather service said.

The cool temperatures will continue into early next week, hovering between the upper 70s and low 80s.

Weather watches and warnings

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