The National Weather Service in St. Louis is forecasting a bright start today with sunny skies and a high near 73, as a westerly wind blows at 11 to 14 mph, gusts could accelerate up to 26 mph; tonight's sleep will be accompanied by mostly clear conditions and a dip in temperature to around 53 degrees, giving residents of St. Louis and the surrounding areas a chance to enjoy a pleasant day before conditions shift later in the week, as per the NWS.
Looking ahead, Thursday promises continued sunshine with a high of nearly 67 degrees, but it's the upcoming weekend that brings a marked change, rain showers and potential thunderstorms are lining up for Friday night with a 40 percent chance of precipitation—which jumps dramatically to 70 percent and 90 percent for Saturday and Saturday night, respectively, heavy rainfall could be an unwelcomed guest during some of these storms, so folks planning outdoor activities will want to seek alternative plans or pack their rain gear.
The NWS warns the region, including parts of central Missouri and southwest Illinois, signaling a wet conclusion to the week and a stormy lead into the Memorial Day weekend, with "showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm" and with the chances of precipitation staying persistently high—hovering around 60 to 80 percent through Sunday.
Outdoor events around St. Louis could face disruptions due to the forecasted weather, particularly on Memorial Day when there is still a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, while Tuesday might bring a return to calmer skies with only a 20 percent chance of rain, thunderstorms. However, it's clear that those in and around St. Louis should remain vigilant, monitor local weather updates; they should also prepare for potential hazardous conditions as "spotter activation is not expected at this time," and thunderstorms could intensify, according to the Hazardous Weather Outlook.
