Approaching Weather System Will Bring Chance for Severe Thunderstorms on Wednesday

An upper level trough that is currently centered over the northwest will begin pressing eastward through the first half of the work week. This is feature is expected to surge through Missouri Tuesday into Wednesday. This, coupled with a cold front that is expected to sweep through at the same time, will make rain and storms likely, with some of the storms having the potential to become severe.

The placement of this trough will put the nose of the low level jet-stream right over northwestern Missouri, allowing for a deep layer of sheer, or change in wind speed and direction, to occur over Mid-Missouri. Pairing this with the unstable air and moisture ahead of the cold front will provide the ingredients to help initiate thunderstorms. While a tornado or hail cannot be ruled out, the main threat with these possibly severe storms will be damaging winds.

The area most threatened by the potential for severe weather is currently located in southeastern Missouri for Wednesday afternoon. By late Wednesday night, the majority of showers and thunderstorm activity will have shifted eastward out of our region, leaving us with a dry Thursday and remainder of the week.