By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Dangerously hot temperatures will continue to impact the region on Friday, as highs could once again hit triple digits.
A heat advisory is in effect for much of southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas, southwestern Iowa and northwest Missouri through Friday evening.
"We could see index values top out around 105 or 106 (degrees Fahrenheit)," said National Weather service meteorologist Jon Kurtz at the Kansas City/Pleasant Hill office. "Air temperatures themselves will be right around 100 degrees. So, hot and humid definitely for a good chunk of the afternoon hours."
St. Joseph hit 99 on Thursday, while Maryville topped out at an even 100. The hottest temperatures Friday are expected to be along and south of U.S. Highway 36.
There's also a chance of potentially strong thunderstorms on Friday evening. Much of the region is under a marginal risk for severe weather as a cold front slowly makes it way south.
Kurtz does not expect this to be a widespread severe weather event.
"We're lacking a little bit of moisture," he said. "It's not like a traditional setup. We do have a front coming through, and we could see a couple of strong thunderstorms. Maybe some wind gusts, maybe some hail."
Portions of eastern Kansas and northwest Missouri saw a bout of high winds, hail and heavy rain as a storm system moved through last Friday.
Highs this Saturday and Sunday will still top out in the mid 90s, but relief is on the way with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s through Wednesday of next week.
The hot and dry pattern this summer has prompted some drought conditions across large swaths of the Midwest, particularly Iowa, which is seeing severe drought in the central and northern parts of the state according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday.
While it's 'abnormally dry' across far northern Missouri and southeast Nebraska, Kurtz says rain chances this weekend could help.
"If we get some of these rounds of rain, it could help keep eastern Kansas and northwest Missouri within normal range for the summer," he said. "We're not seeing as many rain chances this summer, so could definitely see a slip into a minor drought further into summertime."
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