Monday, July 15: Cold front brings rain and sends the heat packing

Good Monday evening! A delayed summer surge finally got underway late in the weekend, peaking today with highs in the 90s and heat indices over 100°. The heat will linger into Tuesday, but a mid-week retreat will lead to an extended mild spell.

Hot and hazy conditions will give way this evening to a quiet night. Severe storms across Iowa will push east into Northern Illinois with additional storms developing on a boundary that will push south through Missouri. The boundary could trigger at least spotty showers and thunderstorms as far south as Hwy. 60 by sunrise. Temperatures will remain very warm, especially across areas that remain rain-free through the overnight hours.

Spotty showers and thunderstorms will likely fade Tuesday morning, but clouds may remain rather widespread. This will have an impact on just how hot it will get, but there should be enough sunshine, especially to the south and west for another round of afternoon highs in the 90s with heat indices over 100°.

Spotty showers and thunderstorms will remain possible into the afternoon. Rain chances will ramp up Tuesday night as a cold front pushes south. Rain and thunderstorms will become widespread overnight. A few severe storms are possible with strong wind gusts to 60 mph. Localized flooding is also possible.

Rain and thunder will spill into Wednesday with the emphasis for wet weather gradually shifting south into Arkansas with the cold front. Temperatures will be noticeably cooler, but humid conditions won’t retreat until Thursday.

The great news is that the cold front will open the door for well below-normal temperatures to invade and stay through the coming weekend! Thursday and Friday will offer up ideal July weather.

Weekend weather will start nice, but take a turn for the cloudier and wetter on Sunday as a storm dives into the middle of the country. The storm will boost rain chances and keep temperatures mild. In fact, it looks like the trough in the middle of the country will persist. This may keep rain chances around next week, but it will certainly keep temperatures milder than normal as we kick off the Ozark Empire Fair.

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