Missouri is waking up to bright sunshine and comfortable early temperatures, but the cool start won’t last long. Asphalt will heat quickly under a cloud-free sky, and each afternoon this week will feel noticeably hotter across the Kansas City metro. It’s the beginning of a prolonged stretch of midsummer heat with little chance for cooling rainfall.
Kansas City, Missouri – According to the National Weather Service in Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, sunny skies will dominate the forecast through at least Friday as high pressure settles over the central Plains. Afternoon highs will reach 90 degrees today, 91 Tuesday, 94 Wednesday, 95 Thursday, and 96 Friday. Overnight lows remain mild, ranging from the upper 60s into the middle 70s.
Commuters traveling along Interstates 35, 70, 435, 670 and U.S. Highway 71 should enjoy excellent driving conditions with dry pavement and unrestricted visibility. The bigger concern shifts to prolonged heat exposure, especially during the afternoon commute when pavement temperatures climb well above the air temperature. Keep extra water in your vehicle and avoid leaving children or pets inside parked cars.
National weather discussions continue highlighting severe thunderstorms and flash flooding across portions of the central Plains and Upper Midwest. However, those storm complexes are expected to remain north and west of the Kansas City metro during the next several days. Tornado potential locally remains very low through the middle of the week.
By Wednesday and Thursday, the stronger July sunshine will push temperatures into the middle 90s. Outdoor workers, athletes and anyone attending community events should schedule frequent breaks and stay hydrated. Heat stress can build quickly after several consecutive hot days, even without excessive humidity.
The warming trend continues into the weekend with highs approaching 97 degrees, reinforcing a classic midsummer pattern across western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Longer-range outlooks continue favoring above-normal temperatures into next week.
Five-Day Forecast for Kansas City, Missouri
- Today: Sunny. High 90°F.
- Tuesday: Sunny. High 91°F.
- Wednesday: Sunny. High 94°F.
- Thursday: Sunny. High 95°F.
- Friday: Sunny. High 96°F.
