ST. LOUIS — UPDATE: As of 7:30 Wednesday morning, all thunderstorm and flood warnings and watches expired in the St. Louis area.
Overnight, the low-level jet stream triggered storms with heavy rain expected over the Bi-state. Storms with heavy rain and gusty winds arrived Wednesday before sunrise. In the areas of repeated heavier thunderstorms, some reported more than three inches of rain. For much of the rest of the area, rainfall amounts were quite light. Some areas in St. Louis metro, especially north county and northward saw limited rainfall.
The rain cleared away during the morning hours on Wednesday, and the rest of the day is expected to be dry.
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The National Weather Service has canceled a good part of the severe thunderstorm watch for the 5 On Your Side area. Crawford, Reynolds, Phelps, Iron, Gasconade and Perry counties in Missouri remain in the watch until 4 p.m. The large cluster of storms moved across that area just before and during the lunch hour. Heavy rain is also a concern as thunderstorms are continuing to form around the Lake of the Ozarks area and moving southeast. Flash flood warnings are in effect for the lake area as of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
There remains a slight risk of severe storms during the day and into tonight for much of the area. The main risk for the day includes damaging wind gusts along with large hail. Another round of showers and storms will move through during the afternoon. This round of storms should clear away by the evening hours, but there is potential for another round of heavy rain to develop over the St. Louis area overnight into Wednesday morning.
While everyone will not see the heavy rain overnight, where it does set up there could be some flash flooding. Some indications are that two to five inches of rain could fall in a very short amount of time leading to fast-rising streams and creeks. Ponding and localized flooding are possible during the predawn hours Wednesday, so use extreme caution if you will be traveling on area roadways, and do not drive into flooded roads!
The rain should clear around sunrise Wednesday as the severe threat shifts south. Dry weather will return.
Click here for the full Weather First forecast.
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In Missouri, we serve these counties: Crawford County, Franklin County, Gasconade County, Iron County, Jefferson County, Lincoln County, Madison County, Perry County, Phelps County, Pike County, Reynolds County, St. Charles County, St. Francois County, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ste. Genevieve County, Warren County, and Washington County.
In Illinois, we serve Bond County, Calhoun County, Clay County, Clinton County, Fayette County, Greene County, Jefferson County, Jersey County, Macoupin County, Madison County, Marion County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Randolph County, St. Clair County, and Washington County.
