Kansas City reached 80 degrees on Friday, March 27—unseasonably warm for late March, and a preview of the kind of temperature volatility that the region experiences as winter loosens its grip.

The warmth will not last. The National Weather Service has issued storm risk advisories for the weekend, with the primary threat being large hail and damaging winds. The threat is not unusual for March in the Midwest, but it is a reminder that spring in Kansas City is a season defined by its instability.

The World Cup preparations in Kansas City continue against this weather backdrop. The $59 million in security funding was released as scheduled, and the local organizing committee has confirmed that all outdoor fan zones will operate rain or shine.

The temperature, which will drop back toward seasonal averages by Sunday, is not relevant to the World Cup preparation. The storms may be.

-- Amara Okonkwo, Kansas City [1] [2].