ST. LOUIS – Our warmest temperature of the year so far has been 88 F on April 28. We should best that Thursday.
Breezy and hot Thursday afternoon, temperatures will push into the low 90s, especially near metro St. Louis. The record high is 94 F. We are watching thunderstorm chances for both Thursday and Friday.
A weak front will pass through the area Thursday, bringing a wind shift from southwest to west. That may be enough to pop a few storms late afternoon and into the evening, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
But did you notice how it looked like rain all afternoon Wednesday but we didn’t get a drop? That was because of a strong cap in the atmosphere. If we can’t break that cap, the storms may not even form. If we can get a storm to develop along the front, it could get pretty strong with large hail, isolated damaging winds, and the possibility of a tornado. The best chance of one of these storms is south and east of metro St. Louis.
That front settles south overnight and then starts to head back to the north as a warm one on Friday. How far the moisture can return to the north will dictate the threat zone for severe weather Friday afternoon and evening, but right now it is focused along and south of I-44 in MO and I-70 in IL.
The main concern for Friday’s storms is the potential for damaging winds. Storms will be possible between noon and 8 p.m. Be ready to adjust Friday plans. The storms Friday will usher in a touch of a cool down for the weekend, with high temperatures closer to 80 F.
An active pattern is expected early next week, starting with some rain and storms late Sunday into Monday.