QUINCY (WGEM) – Red Flag Warnings have been issued for much of the Tri-States for elevated and high fire risk as we anticipate very gusty winds accompanied by a dry cold front. Scotland and Clark Counties in Missouri, Lee County in Iowa, and Hancock and McDonough Counties in Illinois will be in the Red Flag Warning from noon Friday through 6pm Friday evening. Knox, Lewis, Shelby, Marion, Monroe and Ralls Counties in Missouri will be under the Red Flag Warning from 10am Friday morning through 8pm Friday evening. It is strongly recommended that you do not do any outdoor burning in order to mitigate the risk for wildfire.
Much of Friday will highlight a mainly sunny sky. Then early in the afternoon, a dry cold front will slide in from the north, giving us a few clouds. We will stay dry, but all day long, it will be windy – we’re talking wind gusts from the west-southwest and later, the west-northwest between 15 to 25 mph with gusts between 30 and 40 mph. Ahead of this afternoon’s cold front, temperatures will get to soar through the 40s and 50s during the morning. By the time you get ready for lunch, temperatures will already be in the low and mid 60s, but our daytime heating will get cut short between 2pm and 4pm with the arrival of our cold front. Then, in the evening, winds from the west-northwest and northwest will plunge our temperatures through the 30s by the time you head to bed. From there, a secondary cold front will push south into the Tri-States, reinforcing colder, Canadian air and northwesterly gusty winds.
By sunrise Saturday morning, skies will be partly cloudy to mostly clear as temperatures bottom out in the mid and upper 20s. What’s more, is that wind chills will have fallen into the teens, so get ready for a flash freeze. Breezy conditions will persist through the first half of Saturday before subsiding in the afternoon and evening. Heading into Sunday, high-pressure will slide into view, allowing for a sunny and slightly milder end to the weekend, with high temperatures reaching into the mid and upper 40s.
High-pressure will have moved east of the Tri-States by Monday morning, and as you head to work for the new work week, you may see a few raindrops fall. Aside from that, Monday will be dry with partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies and highs near and just above 50°.
Monday night and into Tuesday, a dynamic storm system will come off the eastern Rocky Mountains as it presses through the Great Plains and into the Midwest. Late Monday night, a few scattered showers are possible across the Tri-States, but more steady rain and breezy conditions will ensue throughout Tuesday. At times, thunder will be possible. Overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, a cold front will swipe through from west to east, shifting winds to come from the northwest. However, rain will still fall, so count on a soggy start to your workday on Wednesday.
At this time, computer models are suggesting beneficial rainfall for our area. Numerous computer models show at least a half of an inch of rain falling across the Tri-States from late-Monday night through mid-Wednesday morning.
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