A tornado watch for the Metro-east expired at 8 p.m., but the rain continues and temperatures are expected to drop through the night.

St. Clair, Madison, Monroe Calhoun, Macoupin, Randolph, Greene and Jersey counties were included in the watch.

Late afternoon Tuesday is likely to include showers and thunderstorms, some of them severe with a chance of hail, damaging winds and heavy rains. Wind gusts could reach as high as 29 mph.

The evening brings a 100 percent chance of severe thunderstorms. The balmy daytime temperatures will slip to an evening low of 45. Showers and thunderstorms are likely before midnight, and then showers are expected to continue.

Wednesday afternoon may bring an entirely different type of precipitation. The National Weather Service reported there is a chance of flurries after noon, with the temperatures dipping down below freezing by 5 p.m. Wind gusts could be as high as 34 mph. The Wednesday night low will be a cold 21 degrees.