Weather Alert Day: Severe threat winds down, rain continues into the overnight

UPDATE: Storms packed a punch in the west Saturday night, causing at least two reports of damage in both Saline and Pettis counties. More reports may trickle in with time, but these consist of damage to a metal roof in Columbia and damaged power poles with downed lines near Malta Bend. Wind has been the primary threat, though storms are also bringing abundant rainfall. Heavy rain is contributing to concern for flooding, with a flood watch in effect through Sunday morning. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 4 AM in Benton, Morgan, and Camden counties as of this writing.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day for the potential of strong to severe storms by late Saturday evening (6-13-26) through the overnight hours. The Storm Prediction Center has most of Mid-Missouri in a level 2/5 risk for severe storms, with most western counties at a 3/5 risk on Saturday.

After a pleasant and quiet Friday with lower humidity, a big change returned on Saturday as low pressure approached from the west. A warm front lifted north through the region throughout the day, which is why there were showers and storms throughout the morning hours.

With the front well to our north during the day, we had the opportunity to heat up and become more unstable as available energy grew. Wind shear will be sufficient to support severe storms, but low-level wind shear is looking fairly weak, so while there will be a damaging wind and hail threat, the tornado threat will be lower. With the more widespread round to the south of I-70 during the morning hours, coverage will be limited for late afternoon storms, so the main thing to watch with any pop-up storms will be areas north of I-70, as those will determine how severe the main round of storms is for the late night hours.

We'll also be monitoring for the potential of locally heavy rain and flash flooding as the moisture content in the air will be high yet again. Dew points reached the 70s again during the day, allowing for rainfall rates to be high in the strongest storms.

As the afternoon remains warm, there may be a few isolated storms that pop up, but we'll see an increased risk of scattered severe storms by late evening as storms develop along the cold front to the northwest. Storms will work northwest to southeast, likely exiting Mid-Missouri before daybreak on Sunday.

The main concerns will be 60-75+ mph winds, quarter-size hail, and locally heavy rain to prompt flash flooding. The tornado threat will be low, but non-zero.

If you have outdoor plans, make sure you have a way to receive alerts of severe weather or lightning nearby and a plan to get indoors. The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather App is free and will send lightning detection alerts within 15 miles of your location.