ST. LOUIS – Another welcome break from the rain to start our Friday, but we are far from finished with the wet weather. In fact, Friday will bring the heaviest rain of this stretch to the St. Louis region.
After a dry start, the first of two waves of heavy rain and thunderstorms will move in by lunchtime Friday. These storms are not expected to be severe. There will be a short lull in the rain after 1 p.m., then additional heavy rain and storms are expected to build in from the southwest. This will impact the Friday afternoon commute and evening plans significantly.
Storms with this wave may be strong to severe, with large hail the main concern paired up with the heavy downpours. This is the time frame with the best chance of flash flooding, as we are expecting a couple of inches of rainfall Friday night. With the sun setting, be extra mindful of water-covered roadways. You may not be able to see them as well in the dark.
After another dry break in the early morning hours of Saturday, one more heavy band of rain is expected to build in late Saturday morning and continue through the afternoon. This rain looks lighter than Friday’s action. A cold front will sweep across the region Saturday night and take the heavy rain threat away with it.
Sunday will be a breezy and chilly day with just some spot rain possible in the morning. Between now and early Sunday, much of the region is expected to see an additional 3 to 5 inches of rain on top of what we have already seen. This prolonged period of heavy rain will likely cause flooding on small streams and creeks and some of the smaller rivers.