Severe thunderstorms expected on Sunday

Southerly winds will be kicking back into the region this weekend bringing uncomfortably hot and humid conditions outside. On Saturday, expect mostly sunny skies with highs to be in the lower-to-middle- 90s and heat index values flirting with the triple digit mark.

Sunday will be another hot summer day with temperatures yet again making it into the middle 90s and heat indices at about 100 degrees. There will also be a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. Some of the storms as outlined by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) could be strong to severe across Southeast Missouri.

“A cold front will move into the region and we could see some showers and thunderstorms develop across East Central and Southeast Missouri,” said Melissa Byrd, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. “We have a chance of some severe weather across this area Sunday, especially Sunday afternoon into the evening hours.”

According to the National Weather Service, damaging winds of 60 mph or greater will be the primary concern, however, large hail and torrential rainfall can not be ruled out with any severe thunderstorm that does develop over the region.

Byrd says the threat of storms will carry on into the early portions of the work week.

“We will still see showers and thunderstorms possible through Monday night,” said Byrd. “The cold front will take its time moving through our region.”

Monday will see the risk of more thunderstorms, but daytime high temperatures will back down into the middle 80s with overnight lows in the lower 60s.

The cold front will finally push out of the region by Monday night leaving an open door for unseasonably cooler temperatures and drier air to filter into the Parkland by Tuesday morning. As a result from the cold fronts passage expect mostly sunny skies and high temperatures only in the mid-to- upper 70s Tuesday through Thursday. Overnight lows are expected to drop into the mid-50s.

There is a threat of strong to severe thunderstorms across Southeast Missouri Sunday through Sunday night. According to the National Weather Service damaging winds of 60 mph or greater can be expected with the strongest storms, however, large hail and heavy downpours of rain cannot be ruled out.

Korey Johnson is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3616 or Kjohnson@dailyjournalonline.com