St. Louis, Missouri – Thunderstorms capable of producing wind gusts up to 60 mph could hit parts of Missouri and Illinois through Wednesday evening, threatening trees, power lines and travel as storms develop on both sides of the Mississippi River.
According to the National Weather Service in St. Louis, the primary severe weather threat covers southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. A secondary area extends across northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois. The Weather Service stressed that the extent of severe weather remains highly uncertain.
Damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph are the main concern. Quarter-size hail and a weak tornado also cannot be ruled out where storms become strong enough.
The primary threat area includes communities around Farmington and Cape Girardeau in Missouri and Carbondale and Marion in Illinois. Farther north, the secondary threat stretches near Quincy and into west-central Illinois. The St. Louis metro sits between the two highlighted areas.
Residents should secure outdoor furniture and other loose objects before storms arrive, keep phones charged and have multiple ways to receive warnings. Drivers should avoid stopping beneath large trees during strong winds and never attempt to cross flooded roads.
The severe weather threat continues through Wednesday evening. Because storm development remains uncertain, residents across eastern Missouri and western Illinois should monitor warnings closely as conditions evolve.
