St. Louis woke up under clear skies and a crisp 43°F at local observing stations, but the chill will not stick around for long. The day warms quickly, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 76°F on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, along with a steady dose of breezy south winds.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
By this afternoon, south winds are expected to run 6 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 28 mph that could shake loose any unsecured patio furniture and make the highway commute feel a bit more spirited than usual. The combination of gusty winds and relatively dry air will push fire danger into the elevated range across parts of central, east-central, and southeast Missouri, as well as south-central Illinois. Forecasters also flag a more unsettled pattern building later this week, with scattered showers possible tonight and the best odds for widespread showers and thunderstorms late Thursday night into Friday, April 9 to 10, according to the National Weather Service St. Louis.
Thursday Night Into Friday
A weak cold front slips through late tonight into Thursday morning, April 9, keeping most of Thursday on the dry side before humidity and low-level flow ramp up. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to expand along and north of that boundary Thursday night, then push southeast into Friday morning, with the highest rain chances lining up over southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois. For more background on this warm-to-wet setup, see near-record heat as south winds whipped through.
Weekend And Next Week
Temperatures bounce back over the weekend, with highs near 76°F on Saturday, April 11, then climbing into the low 80s by Sunday and Monday, April 12 to 13. Ensemble guidance hints at another round of unsettled weather early next week, and forecasters say the potential for stronger storms goes up around Tuesday to Wednesday, April 14 to 15, depending on how fast the next front moves through. For the latest timing and any watches or warnings, check in with the National Weather Service St. Louis.
What To Bring
If you have outdoor plans today, secure loose items that could take flight in the gusts and hold off on any open burning while fire danger is elevated. For events Thursday night into Friday, keep a backup indoor plan in your back pocket and check updated forecasts before you head out so any showers or thunderstorms do not catch you off guard.
