Parts of Missouri Suddenly at Risk of Severe Hail This Week

We already knew that thunderstorms were likely to impact nearly all of Missouri later this week. Now, forecasters have put parts of Missouri in a risk for severe hail.

I first became aware that something was up when I saw storm chaser extraordinaire Reed Timmer share an advisory map that showed parts of Missouri in a hatched area meaning special storm risk.

Not that I don't trust Reed, but I like to see things with my own eyes, so I ventured over to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center site and confirmed that what he says is accurate. The northwestern part of Missouri is in the area where meteorologists believe could see severe storms Thursday, April 17.

Here's a snippet of the weather nerd talk in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center discussion:

"Elevated thunderstorm activity is expected to be ongoing at the beginning of the (day 3) period across portions of eastern Nebraska into western Iowa and Missouri. Some instances of severe hail will be possible with this activity."

Internet weather celebrity Ryan Hall also is watching these severe storm possibilities later in the week.

Please note that the entire state of Missouri and Illinois are in the area where severe storms are expected on Friday and Saturday, too.

We're entering into another one of those time periods where waves of potentially severe storms will be moving over Missouri and Illinois, so make sure you're weather aware especially between Thursday and Saturday.