Tornado watch added to threat of heavy rain

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for parts of the metro-east shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, adding the threat of severe storms to the weather mix that already includes the chance for heavy rain throughout the evening.

St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph and Clinton counties were among those named for the watch that will expire at 1 a.m. Thursday. Strong isolated thunderstorms moving across central and eastern Missouri prompted meteorologists to issue the warning.

A flash flood watch also is in effect until 1 a.m. Thursday.

Wet weather is expected overnight Wednesday and the low will dip to 65. The chance for rain is 90 percent but will decrease as the night goes on.

There is a slight chance of thunderstorms during the day Thursday, when the mercury will climb to 80. The chance of storms increases to 60 percent Thursday night, when the low will be 67.

Skies are expected to be mostly sunny Friday with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Temperatures will shoot back up to normal for this time of year, reaching 90.

It will be partly cloudy Friday night with a low of 73.

This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 7:23 AM with the headline "Tornado watch added to threat of heavy rain."