St. Louis, Missouri – A volatile severe weather setup could bring tornadoes, giant hail, and damaging winds across Missouri and parts of southeastern Iowa Tuesday afternoon into the night.
According to severe weather outlook guidance analyzing Tuesday’s environment, thunderstorms are expected to develop to the west during the afternoon before expanding east into Missouri and Iowa during the evening hours. Meteorologists warn that some storms could quickly intensify into rotating supercells capable of producing tornadoes.
The greatest tornado potential appears across central and northern Missouri into parts of southeast Iowa, including cities such as St. Louis, Columbia, Kirksville, and Davenport. Storms developing near a warm front and strengthening low-pressure system could create conditions favorable for a few stronger tornadoes.
Large hail exceeding 2 inches in diameter will also be possible with the most intense storms, particularly during the early stages when storms remain more isolated. As the evening progresses, storms may organize into clusters or lines capable of producing widespread damaging wind gusts above 60 mph.
Communities along the Missouri and Mississippi River corridors should prepare for rapidly changing conditions Tuesday evening. Residents are encouraged to review tornado safety plans, identify sturdy shelter locations, and ensure mobile alerts are enabled in case warnings are issued.
Additional watches and updates are expected Tuesday as forecasters refine the highest-risk areas ahead of storm development.
