St. Louis, Missouri – Tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail could slam parts of Missouri and Illinois through 3 a.m. Tuesday as dangerous storms move across the region overnight.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, a Tornado Watch is now in effect for central and southern Missouri and stretches into west-central and southern Illinois, including cities like St. Louis, Columbia, Cape Girardeau, Springfield (IL), and Carbondale. Forecasters say the greatest threat will come from supercells capable of producing tornadoes and an intense line of storms later tonight, with wind gusts possibly hitting 80 mph.
The storms may trigger isolated tornadoes—including a few that could be strong—as well as scattered hail up to 2 inches in diameter. Areas along I-44 in Missouri and I-57 in Illinois are especially at risk for overnight travel hazards and power outages. Flashlights, backup phone chargers, and a safe place to shelter should be ready now.
This is a fast-moving, overnight threat—tornado sirens may be harder to hear while sleeping. Stay weather-aware, turn on alerts, and check for updates before bed. The Tornado Watch remains active through 3 a.m., and more warnings may follow.
