The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis, MO has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook covering a wide swath of eastern and central Missouri, as well as west central and southwest Illinois. With St. Louis skies currently overcast and the temperature a mild 58°F, humidity is holding steady at 84%, signaling a likely turn towards the inclement.
Today’s forecast anticipates a 100% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3 pm followed by a slight chance post-4 pm. By tonight, the likelihood of showers and possible thunderstorms ramps up to 80%, which may include gusts as high as 20 mph. The southeast winds bringing the tumultuous weather are slated to continue through Thursday, bringing an equally high chance of precipitation. In a statement obtained by the National Weather Service, thunderstorms "are expected today, a few could be severe with damaging winds or perhaps a brief tornado possible, mainly this evening."
Looking ahead to Thursday night, showers and potential thunderstorms may give way to partially cloudy conditions around 7 pm, with west winds 6 to 10 mph tempering the atmospheric unrest, and leaving a 60% chance of further storms. Friday's outlook hints at a 40 percent chance of showers, under the banner of a mostly sunny sky and more moderate west winds, as per the NWS forecast.
As always, with such unpredictable weather patterns, residents and visitors are encouraged to stay informed of any updates. The NWS explicitly mentions, "Spotter activation may be needed," an indication that local weather watchers should remain on alert and ready to report significant events. The weekend forecast, thankfully, promises a respite with sunny days, mild evenings, and temperatures graciously ascending to the cusp of the 80s by Tuesday.
