Severe weather expected for the metro-east Saturday. Here’s what we know now

Severe weather appears headed for the metro-east, according to the National Weather Service of St. Louis.

For Friday evening, Brad Charboneau, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of St. Louis, said just to the west, a line of thunderstorms is moving toward the metro-east over the next two to three hours Friday. However, he expects the band of storms to gradually weaken as they approach the area.

“We could see a thunderstorm over the next two or three hours and then the system should clear after that with perhaps scattered showers or a weak thunderstorm in the overnight hours,” he said. “Once that line moves through this evening, most of the rain should be over with until at least early in the morning.”

Saturday, however, is when the weather could turn severe as Charboneau said a cold front moving through the area in the afternoon could produce stronger thunderstorms. He said the approximate window is between 1-5 p.m.

“That’s the time period we’re more concerned about with stronger or severe thunderstorms — around early to mid-afternoon into possibly the early evening,” Charboneau noted. “A lot of it depends on the speed of the cold front and exactly what type of storms initiate along the front.”

Large hail and damaging winds likely are the biggest threats from the storm, but Charboneau also said he couldn’t rule out the possibility of a tornado or two developing. According to the NWS forecast, the chance of precipitation is 70% with wind gusts reaching as high as 30 miles per hour.

“The system should be out of the metro-east area by approximately 5 p.m., unless the front is slower than anticipated,” he said. “The threat remains in Illinois into Saturday evening, but farther to the east.”

Charboneau offered several safety tips, including having multiple ways to secure weather information and updates.

“Be aware,” he said. “Make sure you have your sources available and are able to react to what is happening. Know where you need to go if you are out and about at that time if there is a severe thunderstorm or tornado. Be aware and have a way to be able to get the latest information to you.”

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.

This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 4:42 PM.