Severe Storm Threat for Southern Illinois, St. Louis this Week

Yes, it is still February, but that doesn't mean that Illinois can't see severe thunderstorms and that's exactly what meteorologists are warning could happen in the southern part of the state later this week including in the St. Louis area.

NOAA Storm Prediction Center has just updated their outlooks for this week and Thursday now looks problematic for southern Illinois and the greater St. Louis area. The southeastern tip of Missouri extending into southern Illinois and as far east as Ohio are now in the yellow risk area.

What does the 15% risk area mean for southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois?

The Storm Prediction Center says "a depicted severe weather area indicates 15%, 30% or higher probability for severe thunderstorms within 25 miles of a point." So you're saying there's a chance? Digital meteorologist Ryan Hall also has mentioned the growing potential for severe weather development this week.

Max Velocity did share a map mentioning potential tornado development in his share on social media today.

While I haven't seen any outlooks mention tornadoes specifically, it would be prudent for anyone in southeastern Missouri or southern Illinois to be prepared for thunderstorms with strong wind and potentially lightning to impact their area sometime Thursday. I'll keep an eye on what the Storm Prediction Center is saying as they may update the risk potential the closer we get to Thursday. Don't you love wildly unpredictable February weather?