Roller coaster temperatures bring near-record summer-like heat back to Kansas City

A return of summer-like temperatures on Thursday might confuse some in Kansas City about the seasons.

Roller coaster temperatures are expected to fluctuate between the upper 70s and lower 90s and come close to breaking records in the next few days, according to the National Weather Service in Kansas City.

The weather service said Thursday will be a hot day. Temperatures are expected to soar into the lower 90s in the metro and surrounding areas.

Temperatures this hot are unusual for the Kansas City area on this date. Only seven times in the metro’s history have temperatures reached 90 degrees or above. The record for this date is 95 degrees, set in 2006.

Typically, Kansas City sees high temperatures around 73 degrees this time of year.

Overnight temperatures will fall only to around 60 degrees, about 10 degrees above average.

Seesawing temperatures ahead

A cold front will move slowly from the northwest to the southeast through the region overnight, bringing cooler weather to the metro.

Temperatures will be in the upper 70s Friday afternoon, still above average for this time of year.

Hotter weather is expected on Saturday as temperatures bounce back to around 90 degrees, making it one of the hottest Oct. 5 on records.

It will also be windy, with 25 to 30 mph gusts. The weather service said the winds combined with dry conditions have raised concerns about the possibility of wildfires.

Dry weather persists

Another cold front will enter northwest Missouri around 9 p.m. Saturday and cut through the Kansas City metro by around 4 a.m. Sunday. The front is expected to pass through the remainder of the forecast area.

The weather service said cooler and drier air will move in behind the front. On Sunday, temperatures will range between the mid-70s and lower 80s.

A reinforcing cold front might move through the area Sunday night, dropping Monday’s temperatures a few degrees.

Temperatures will increase on Tuesday, and the warming trend is likely to continue into Wednesday, the weather service said.

“Other than the slight chances for negligible rain tonight across far (northeast) Missouri, dry conditions are likely to continue through at least the middle of next week, which will only exacerbate our current drought conditions,” the weather service said.

Above-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall are “strongly favored” Oct. 10 through 16, the weather service said.