The hottest weather so far this year arrives in Missouri
Temperatures will reach the mid-90s by Thursday with highs approaching 100 degrees on Sunday. The hottest weather so far this year is expected in Missouri this week, with temperatures expected to reach 10 to 15 degrees above average. High pressure will filter in warm air from the surface, allowing southwesterly winds to filter in the warm air. An upper-level ridge of high pressure over the region is expected to act as a heat dome, contributing to the expected 10-15 degree above average temperatures. The average high for this time of the year is in the low to mid-80s, meaning highs for both Kansas City and St. Louis will reach the mid-90s by Thursday afternoon. High dew points will increase heat indices, making it feel more like 103 degrees in Kansas City compared to the upper 90s in St. L. Louis. High temperatures are expected to continue to rise through next week.
Publicerad : 2 veckor sedan förbi Meteorologist Stacy Lynn i Weather
The countdown to the summer solstice is in the single digits, but the heat didn’t get the memo. The hottest air so far this year is expected in the “Show-Me” state this week through the weekend.
With high pressure, at the surface, located east of the area, southwesterly winds will filter in the warm air. An upper-level ridge of high pressure over the region will act as a heat dome by the weekend, solidifying the 10 to 15 degrees above average temperatures expected.
With so much rain this spring, temperatures weren’t too extreme. It wasn’t like 2022, where a stretch of 90s was observed during May.
Kansas City International Airport hasn’t reached 90 degrees so far this year. The last time they saw the mercury climb to the 90s was back on Oct. 1, when the high reached 91 degrees.
The downtown Kansas City Airport saw a surge in temperatures last week, with highs reaching 92 degrees on June 7. As for St. Louis, the 90s have been reached only twice so far this year. 91 degrees was recorded on both May 19 and 21, but not yet in June.
The high pressure that brought sunshine and cool conditions earlier in the week has moved off to the east. Winds have become southwest, and that is going to bring warmer air into the region.
The average high for this time of the year is in the low to mid-80s, meaning highs will be a good ten degrees above average. Highs for both Kansas City and St. Louis are expected to reach the mid-90s by Thursday.
Kansas City will see higher dew points, yielding higher heat indices. It will feel more like 103 degrees by Thursday afternoon, whereas it will "only" feel like the upper 90s in St. Louis.
With hot weather and higher humidity, the environment will be able to support thunderstorms. A cold front will move through the region during the evening and overnight hours on Thursday with storms.
Kansas City is under a level 2/5 for severe weather, initially a large hail threat with storms later merging into a line transitioning over to a wind threat. Just north of Kansas City is included in the level 3/5 for the chance for supercell thunderstorms to produce large hail, damaging wind gusts over 75 mph and an isolated tornado.
As the front pushes south into the late hours on Thursday and daytime heating is lost, the line will weaken.
By the time the storms arrive in St. Louis overnight, they won’t be as intense. The region is under a 1/5 threat for gusty winds and small hail, but widespread severe weather in this region is unlikely.
Behind the cold front, we’ll see a brief wind shift to the northwest for Friday morning. This won’t completely suppress the hot air, but highs will be kept to the upper 80s to near 90 degrees for both Kansas City and St. Louis on Friday.
By Saturday, the winds return to the south and southwest as the upper-level ridge strengthens. Highs will creep back up into the lower 90s.
Sunday looks to be the warmest day of the period with highs flirting with the triple digits. Factor in an increase in dew points and it will feel more like 105 to 110 degrees.
The high heat and humidity will stick around through the beginning of next week.
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