St. Louis, Missouri – A flood watch is in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning across northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois, as slow-moving storms threaten to dump several inches of rain on already saturated ground.
According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, areas under watch include Adams, Brown, and Pike counties in Illinois and Audrain, Marion, Ralls, Pike, and Knox counties in Missouri. The watch begins at 4 p.m. Thursday and remains in place through 10 a.m. Friday. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms are expected, bringing high rainfall rates and the potential for rapid flooding in low-lying areas, creeks, and small streams.
Cities such as Quincy, Hannibal, Mexico, and Bowling Green could see localized flooding overnight, particularly where drainage is poor or near small rivers. Drivers should avoid water-covered roads, and residents in flood-prone areas should be prepared to act quickly if conditions worsen.
The region’s saturated soil from previous storms increases runoff risk. Flash flooding could resemble last July’s events that overwhelmed rural roads in Pike County.
Warnings may follow as conditions evolve. Stay tuned to local alerts and avoid unnecessary travel tonight.
