ST. LOUIS — Overnight tornado warnings across the St. Louis area expired as the leading edge of overnight storms has begun to weaken. A few stronger thunderstorms remained southwest of St. Louis.
A brief tornado warning for Franklin and Warren counties expired at 2:15 a.m. Tornado warnings for St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County expired at 3 a.m.
A Weather Impact Alert remains in effect as the storms move through the area through 7 a.m. for the potential of a few stronger storms and wet roads for the Thursday morning commute.
Record warmth for late October in St. Louis helped fuel Thursday's storm chances across the Midwest.
Warren County, Missouri opened its Community Storm Shelter in Truesdale at 10 p.m. Wednesday night through 7 a.m. Thursday morning should residents need to seek more substantial shelter. Information was posted on Facebook Wednesday afternoon.
The greatest severe weather threat will be across parts of western Missouri into eastern Kansas and Oklahoma. A few tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and large hail can be expected in the level three risk area. That risk area includes Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita. A much lower risk of severe storms stretches farther east into the bi-state region. A level one threat covers much of the 5 On Your Side viewing area for the overnight hours Wednesday into Thursday morning.
The line of showers and storms approached the metro area around 3 a.m. Thursday morning. By 6 a.m., the heavier showers and storms will be south and east of the Gateway Arch with showers lingering into mid-morning.
Even though the storms will be weakening, with the line of showers and storms arriving during the overnight hours, you need to keep your devices charged. There could be a few downed power lines if the gusty winds materialize in the thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts will generally be from a quarter to a half an inch. There may be locally higher amounts under the heaviest storms. So far in October, only .05" of rain has fallen in St. Louis.
The good news for the Halloween Trick or Treaters, the clouds will be breaking during the afternoon. It will be dry Thursday evening with near average temperatures close to 60 degrees around 5 p.m.
