As the National Weather Service in St. Louis reports, the city braces for a wet week ahead with showers and thunderstorms likely, and some potentially severe weather on the horizon. The forecast, updated early this morning, indicates a high probability of precipitation at 80% today, with an expected high of around 70 degrees. NWS St. Louis cautions residents to anticipate showers and possibly a thunderstorm post 9am, with the pattern enduring into the evening.
Continuing with tonight's scenario, the weather expects to serve up showers and thunderstorms before 10pm then again showers may roll in, possibly thunderstorms after 10pm, patchy fog could also emerge before and after the midnight hour, and the night temperature may drop to about 66 degrees with a shift in wind from calm to northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Tomorrow will bring a 50% chance of more showers and thunderstorms, evident in the cloudy skies and high nearing 73 degrees with a gentle northwest wind blowing at 6 to 10 mph, the week though no stranger to showers keeping residents wary of the persistent dampness.
Looking ahead, the weather eases somewhat midweek with only partly sunny conditions expected on Wednesday and a high near 76 degrees, yet the respite might be brief as a 20 percent chance of showers could return post 1am Wednesday night. The cycle of clouds and rain seems relentless, Thursday carrying a 50% chance of showers and potential thunderstorms in the afternoon, the temperamental skies matching the high at 76 degrees, before dipping into another 50 percent chance of precipitation Thursday night.
The forecast through the weekend doesn’t stray from this pattern; Friday and Saturday also hover at a 60% likelihood of showers predominantly after 1pm during daylight hours, the thorough cloud coverage being a constant companion, while nightfall comes with a nearly identical probability of rain, as Sunday rounds out the week with showers likely and possible thunderstorms indicating the region doesn't get to shake off the damp conditions anytime soon. Yet, amidst all the rain, the National Weather Service's hazardous weather outlook suggests augments in severity with mention of "damaging winds and marginally severe hail" as potential threats for the southeastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois areas this afternoon and evening, thus residents there should be particularly alert.
The hazardous weather outlook calls for spotters to be on alert, with possible activation as conditions persist or worsen. The risk zones encompass a wide swath including parts of eastern and central Missouri as well as west central and southwest Illinois, stating a consistent chance of thunderstorms from tomorrow morning through to the following Sunday. The details for the outlook can be found on the National Weather Service St. Louis MO website, keeping communities abreast of the climatic challenge laid out before them.
