St. Louis, Missouri – Tornadoes, destructive winds, and large hail are expected to hit the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys Friday afternoon into the overnight hours, prompting a regional storm alert for millions from Missouri to Kentucky.
According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, a regional outbreak of severe thunderstorms is likely beginning Friday afternoon (May 16) and lasting through early Saturday. The highest risk zone stretches from St. Louis and Paducah eastward to Louisville and Indianapolis, where intense supercells could spawn large hail and strong tornadoes. A fast-developing bowing line of storms may bring widespread wind gusts over 75 mph, especially overnight when visibility is low.
Cities including Evansville, Bloomington, Cape Girardeau, and Clarksville lie within the greatest threat area. Red-dashed zones on NOAA’s outlook map indicate elevated tornado potential, while blue-dashed areas could see hurricane-force straight-line winds. Travel on I-64, I-55, and parts of I-70 may become dangerous late Friday as storms intensify.
Residents are urged to charge devices, secure outdoor items, and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. Overnight storms can be especially hazardous due to reduced warning visibility and sleep hours.
Severe weather warnings remain in effect through early Saturday morning. Additional watches and alerts may be issued as storms organize across the region.
