Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

More rain today, but what's the weather for your trick-or-treater?

Heavy rains and thunderstorms will continue to drench the area through tonight. But Halloween should be dry for your trick-or-treater.

The predicted heavy rainfall has lead to a flash flood watch, which will remain in effect through 7 Friday night in the metro-east and most of the greater St. Louis area, according to the National Weather Service.

The weekend looks dry and sunny with temperatures from the upper 40s to low 60s Saturday through Monday.

The watch includes St. Clair, Madison, Washington, Randolph, Calhoun, Jersey and Monroe counties. In Missouri, the watch includes St. Louis city, and St. Louis and St. Charles counties.

The sodden ground is expected to get hit with another 2 to 4 inches of rain. Precipitation at Scott Air Force Base amounted to 0.75 inches of rain by 9 p.m. Thursday.

"The ground is already soaked," said Laura Kanofsky, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "The water will quickly go into streams and creeks, and the levels on streams and creeks could rise."

Kanofsky advised: "If you see the roadway is flooded, don't drive in it."

She said that even four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicles can become trapped by rising, quickly moving water.

Thunderstorms are expected as a strong storm system moves through the region. In addition to the heavy rainfall, a few storms may produce strong gusty winds.

Heavy rain and showers will continue through today with temperatures ranging between the low 40s and mid 50s.