St. Louis, Missouri – A small but serious risk for severe weather looms over southeastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois on Thursday, with the National Weather Service warning of isolated storms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes.
According to the NWS in St. Louis, there is a 20% chance that thunderstorms will develop Thursday afternoon and evening across the region. If storms do form, they may intensify quickly, particularly in areas near Cape Girardeau, Farmington, and Carbondale, Illinois. Most scenarios, however, suggest storms will struggle to form, with an 80% likelihood of staying dry and partly cloudy.
Areas along I-55 and U.S. Route 60 could see brief, intense storms if development occurs. Residents in Poplar Bluff and Mount Vernon are urged to stay weather-aware and have emergency alerts enabled on mobile devices. The primary threats include wind gusts over 60 mph, quarter-size hail, and isolated tornadoes.
With the uncertainty still high, NWS says confidence will increase by late Wednesday. If storms do materialize, they could resemble past surprise spring outbreaks in the region.
A follow-up update is expected Wednesday afternoon. Storm watches may be issued if confidence grows.
