The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the St. Louis region until 10 p.m. Wednesday.
The thunderstorm watch covers 20 counties in central and eastern Missouri and 16 counties in south central Illinois, covering a population of more than 3 million along with more than 1,400 schools and 95 hospitals.
A “severe” watch is classified as a “significant threat to life or property.” The certainty is more than 50 percent, forecasters said.
Thunderstorms will advance south this evening and could include isolated hail with a possible ping-pong size, the NWS said on Twitter.
“Strong, damaging winds are the primary threat from these storms, along with small hail and localized flash flooding,” the National Weather Service in St. Louis said.
Scattered gusts up to 70 mph are possible.
Storms are expected to reach St. Louis, St. Charles and the Metro East between 7 and 9 p.m.
The watch was issued for the following counties:
* AFFECTED AREAS: MADISON, IL … MONTGOMERY, MO … JEFFERSON, MO … ST. LOUIS CITY, MO … MONROE, IL … MONITEAU, MO … MONROE, MO … BROWN, IL … ST. CLAIR, IL … CALHOUN, IL … PIKE, MO … ADAMS, IL … COLE, MO … SHELBY, MO … CLINTON, IL … BOND, IL … CALLAWAY, MO … MARION, IL … BOONE, MO … LINCOLN, MO … MONTGOMERY, IL … GREENE, IL … WASHINGTON, IL … ST. LOUIS, MO … AUDRAIN, MO … FAYETTE, IL … JERSEY, IL … FRANKLIN, MO … MARION, MO … GASCONADE, MO … MACOUPIN, IL … OSAGE, MO … ST. CHARLES, MO … PIKE, IL … WARREN, MO … RALLS, MO
