St. Louis woke to clear skies on Thursday, March 26, 2026, and the atmosphere is wasting no time heating up. Forecasters expect a fast climb into the low 90s, with a high near 92°F this afternoon. Southwest winds will strengthen and gust into the 20s to 30s, making it feel drier and breezier. Late tonight a cold front will move through, bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms during the overnight hours.
Storms Late Tonight
A cold front is expected to push through late Thursday night, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 p.m. Thursday, March 26, and 3 a.m. Friday, March 27. Showers and thunderstorms become likely after that. A few elevated storms could be capable of quarter size hail and quick, damaging wind gusts, mainly across northwest Missouri and west central Illinois from roughly 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. If storms form they will move fast, and brief heavy rain and gusty winds could disrupt late night commutes and overnight events, according to the National Weather Service St. Louis.
Afternoon Heat And Gusty Winds
Sunny skies and southwest winds of 9 to 17 mph this afternoon will push temperatures into the low 90s, warm enough that daily high records at Lambert (KSTL) are at risk. The downsloping flow will also create pockets of elevated fire danger across parts of central and southeast Missouri, so residents are urged to avoid recreational or yard burning while winds are strong. St. Louis County already restricts most open burning; see the St. Louis County open burning ordinance for details.
What To Do
If you have outdoor plans this afternoon, drink water, take breaks in the shade when you can and secure lightweight patio furniture. After 11 p.m., be prepared to move indoors quickly if thunder develops, and late night travelers should expect brief visibility reductions with heavier cells. A sharp cooldown follows Friday and Saturday with highs in the 50s, then a warming trend returns early next week with highs climbing back into the 80s. Keep an eye on updates from the National Weather Service and local officials as conditions evolve.
