St. Louis, MO – A major severe weather outbreak is expected across the mid-Mississippi Valley this afternoon and into tonight, with strong tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail threatening Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, a line of severe thunderstorms will develop across Missouri and Iowa before rapidly moving into Illinois tonight. These storms are expected to produce widespread wind gusts of 70-90 mph, strong tornadoes, and hail up to baseball size.
Meteorologists have placed much of the region under a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5) for severe weather, with the greatest threat concentrated in areas including St. Louis, Springfield, Quincy, and Peoria. A red-highlighted zone on the SPC map denotes the highest risk for strong tornadoes, while blue-dashed areas indicate potential 75+ mph wind gusts.
Officials urge residents to take warnings seriously, as storms will move quickly. Safety experts advise people to have multiple ways to receive alerts, seek shelter immediately when warnings are issued, and avoid waiting until a tornado or severe wind is visible.
Storm conditions are expected to last through late evening, with the potential for lingering severe weather into early Saturday. Residents in the affected areas should stay informed and prepare accordingly.
