Tropical Storm Helene’s track shifts east. What does that mean for the weather in KC?

Clear, sunny skies will usher in a couple of pleasant fall days in the Kansas City area, according to the National Weather Service.

“As skies remain clear, expect high temperatures to reach the mid- to upper 70s across the area resulting in a fairly nice day,” the weather service said.

Typically, Kansas City sees temperatures in the mid-70s this time of year.

Classic fall temperatures will persist across the area over the weekend and beyond.

Tropical Storm Helene’s strength, track

Tropical Storm Helene continues to gather strength and is expected to become a major hurricane. As of Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center reported that Helene was just offshore of the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and close to hurricane strength.

Helene, which is expected to rapidly intensify and grow in size over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to make landfall Thursday along the Big Bend area of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Originally, remnants of Helene were expected to influence Kansas City’s weather over the weekend. But with Helene’s forecast track trending further east, the metro’s rain chances have fallen, the weather service said.

Northwest Missouri, including the Kansas City metro, may be dry through the weekend, the weather service said.

“Even so, light, scattered showers are still possible Friday,” the weather service said. “An isolated thunderstorm or two is also not out of the question.”

The areas with the best chances of rain over the weekend are currently east and south of a line that roughly stretches from Clinton through Sedalia to Kirksville in Missouri.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid- to upper 70s Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“Colder, polar air filtering through the area may yield a rather chilly start to next week,” the weather service said.