An Omega Block Over Illinois Could Mean More Missouri Flooding

There is an incoming weather pattern that could mean Missouri and Illinois are about to be kind of stuck in a loop. It's what's called an Omega Block that will happen over Illinois and it could mean more horrible flooding for Missouri.

Let's start with the obvious question. What is an Omega Block when it happens with weather? I'll defer to my friends at the National Weather Service who sum it up by defining it as a weather pattern in the troposphere that is stubborn to move. Meteorologist Travis Roberts noticed that beginning Monday, May 5, there will be two low pressure systems - one in the southwest and one over Illinois that will be twin spinning systems.

Without getting too deep in the weeds about how these low pressure systems work in an Omega Block pattern, patterns of cool air and moisture will result around them. That leads to what this forecast model is showing for Missouri for Thursday, May 8.

After the flooding that impacted many parts of southern Missouri a few days ago, this is the last thing the state needs. The problem with an Omega Block is it's likely to stick around for quite awhile which means Missouri could be on the receiving end of more moisture than the ground knows what to do with.

The good news is there should be very few chances of really serious storms as this looks like a more or less mild pattern, but heavy rain is not what Missouri needs and that's exactly what it looks like it will get.