Metro-east could experience severe weather this weekend. Here’s the latest forecast

The metro-east can expect multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms the next couple days, according to a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of St. Louis.

Beginning Thursday night, the NWS forecast shows a 50% of scattered showers with thunderstorms also possible after 7 p.m. Then, there’s a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday — especially through the morning hours.

“We then should be dry in the afternoon through the evening before another round moves in after midnight Friday into Saturday morning,” Melissa Byrd, a meteorologist with the NWS of St. Louis, said Thursday afternoon.

Saturday, however, is where conditions could get dicey. Byrd said the metro-east likely will see showers and storms Saturday afternoon and into the evening with a slight chance of those turning severe.

More specifically, Byrd cautioned Saturday’s storms could produce large hail and damaging winds and that a few tornadoes are possible in the afternoon and evening hours. As of Thursday afternoon, however, the NWS did not have any exact percentages on tornado chances.

Overall, there’s a 70% of rain Saturday with wind gusts possibly reaching 24 miles per hour.

As far as taking precautions, Byrd recommended to “keep alert of changing weather conditions.”

Byrd expects a quarter to half inch of rain Thursday night and then possibly another quarter to half inch Friday night through Saturday.

Sunday’s forecast looks much brighter with a projected high of 73 degrees and sunshine all day.

The National Weather Service recommends keeping plugged into the forecast as it develops, www.weather.gov. Their Facebook page is www.facebook.com/NWSStLouis.