St. Louis woke up Thursday, April 30, to a crisp 41°F and pockets of river-valley fog that vanished with the sunrise, setting the stage for a classic mid-spring swing. Sunshine will carry much of the day, with afternoon highs topping out near 65°F before a southward-moving front slides in late and brings a chance for spotty showers and a stray rumble of thunder tonight.
Afternoon Into Next Week
Through Thursday afternoon, the sun stays in charge with temperatures near 65°F and light southwest breezes. Later in the evening, that southward-moving front starts to make itself known, boosting the odds for scattered showers and an isolated clap of thunder between about 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. Friday, May 1.
Friday and Saturday stay on the cool side, with highs in the low 60s. Forecasters note that efficient radiational cooling Friday night could drop temperatures in low-lying and rural pockets to around 36°F by early Saturday morning, May 2. That sets up roughly a 30–50% chance of light frost in parts of northeast Missouri, west-central Illinois and the hollows of the Ozarks. Temperatures bounce back on Sunday, May 3, but the weather pattern turns more active again early next week, with increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday, May 4–5, according to the National Weather Service.
What To Know
If you are planning to be outside this evening, a light rain jacket is a smart companion, and drivers should be ready for a patchy, damp commute at times. Heavy downpours are not expected, and severe storms are unlikely. Gardeners in rural or low-lying spots may want to shield tender plants early Saturday in case readings sneak down toward freezing.
For local travel, keep an eye on service alerts, since Metro Transit may tweak service during heavier storms. For background on how earlier spring showers have affected the commute, see our earlier coverage of afternoon rumbles snarling the drive home.
