Friday, July 18 forecast: Goodbye rain, hello heat!

Happy Friday! Today is the last call for rain before we dry out and heat up big time. Scattered rain and thunderstorms will persist this morning and afternoon, especially south of I-44. Meanwhile, hot and dry weather will begin to creep in across Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas today.

A cold front was able to reach the stateline yesterday before stalling. This stationary boundary will be a focus for rain and thunderstorms at times through the day today. The boundary will be pushed to the north and east today by southwest winds ushering in the heat.

This boundary is why rain is more likely in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas as opposed to farther north. Still, even where rain is more favorable, a washout isn't expected with today's hit-or-miss thunderstorms.

Saturday marks the beginning of the long, hot stretch. Hotter, drier air will invade the area with sunnier skies pushing temperatures into the mid-90s. There may be a shower or two early in the day near Lake of the Ozarks, but even there should become hot during the afternoon.

The summer ridge will continue to settle in and will be located directly over the region by the middle of next week. This will keep rain away and lead to a gradual climb in afternoon highs. Look for mid-90s early in the week, with upper 90s becoming more likely by the second half of next week. These will easily be our hottest temperatures of the summer so far, and it will come with heat indices that will top 100°.

Time to get prepared for this extended period of excessive heat. Make sure your AC is running properly and that you have adequate water and shelter for outdoor pets. This will also be a stressful period for your body when doing outdoor activities. Remember to stay hydrated and take breaks when working outdoors more often.