St. Louis residents should prepare for a wet and windy day ahead, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis. Today will likely bring rain and possibly thunderstorms, with a high near 64 degrees accompanied by blustery conditions, with southerly winds 15 to 20 mph and gusts potentially reaching up to 37 mph. The NWS warns of an 80% chance of precipitation, so umbrellas and raincoats should be at the ready for those needing to venture out.
As the evening approaches, the chances of rain and thunderstorms continue before 2am, then tapering off slightly with a slight chance of rain between 2am and 4am. Overnight temperatures are expected to hover around 47 degrees, with persisting breezy conditions as the wind shifts from south to west. Residents might also need to brace for wind gusts as high as 34 mph later tonight.
Looking ahead to Friday, the forecast, also obtained from the NWS, predicts partly sunny skies with a high near 53 degrees. While the day may start with a west wind of 5 to 14 mph, it's anticipated to turn north in the afternoon, with potential gusts up to 26 mph. Friday night will see a 30 percent chance of rain after midnight and mostly cloudy skies with lows around 40 degrees.
Over the weekend, St. Louisans can expect to experience a mild cooldown. Saturday presents a 20 percent chance of rain before noon followed by partly sunny skies with a high near 45. Wind chill factors could come into play with west winds 7 to 14 mph and gusts as high as 24 mph. Come Saturday night, the sky should be partly cloudy, with temperatures dipping to around 25 degrees.
In a separate advisory, the National Weather Service St. Louis has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook spanning eastern and central Missouri as well as parts of west central and southwest Illinois. "There is a low chance for thunderstorms today and tonight. A storm or two may become strong to severe, capable of brief tornadoes and damaging wind gusts," the bulletin states, urging spotters to report any wind damage or tornadoes to the NWS. No further hazardous weather is anticipated for the upcoming week, providing some relief after the immediate concerns subside.
