St. Louis, Missouri – Severe thunderstorms are expected to slam parts of Missouri and Illinois Friday afternoon, with the most dangerous activity focused along I-44 in Missouri and I-70 in Illinois from 1 to 7 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, several storms could become severe, producing baseball-sized hail, 70 mph winds, and isolated tornadoes. The most intense risk stretches from Rolla, Missouri, through St. Louis and into Effingham, Illinois. The agency urges residents to have multiple ways to receive alerts and to head indoors immediately if thunder is heard.
Communities including Sullivan, Union, Belleville, and O’Fallon could see rapidly changing conditions, downed power lines, and tree damage. Outdoor events and afternoon commutes may be impacted, especially as storms roll through during peak travel hours. Residents in mobile homes or driving on exposed highways should take extra precautions.
This system marks one of the strongest severe weather threats of the season so far for the bi-state region. Prepare now by charging devices, reviewing shelter plans, and avoiding non-essential travel during the afternoon.
Severe weather warnings remain in effect through Friday evening, with additional watches possible depending on storm development.
