Severe Storms Expected Wednesday Afternoon and Evening Across the Parkland

Park Hills, Mo. (KFMO) - All of the Parkland is under an Enhanced Risk for severe weather on Wednesday, with the greatest threat for damaging storms coming in the afternoon and evening hours.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service say early morning storms will likely push east out of the region by mid-morning, leaving behind a mix of cooler, more stable air and, farther south, a developing environment ripe for severe thunderstorm activity. Southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois are currently projected to be the most favorable zones for storm development, though the exact locations will depend on the path of a cold front and how much morning cloud cover lingers.

The window for the most intense storms is expected between 2 p.m. and midnight as a cold front moves across the area. Where that front meets unstable, moist air, severe thunderstorms are likely to develop.

The main threat is damaging winds of up to 60 miles per hour, but forecasters say quarter-size hail and isolated tornadoes, possibly in the EF0 to EF1 range, are also possible.

Meteorologists say confidence is high that the atmosphere will support severe weather, although there is still some uncertainty about how far north the risk area extends and how quickly the morning clouds will clear.

Stay tuned to KFMO B104 News on-air and online and be prepared to take shelter if warnings are issued.