The St. Louis region has been upgraded to a moderate risk for severe weather Monday. That’s a level 4 out of 5 on the Storm Prediction Center’s intensity scale. The National Weather Service said the main threats are damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes, some of which may become strong.
Storms are expected to develop in mid-Missouri during the afternoon and race from west to east. The weather service predicts storms will move through the St. Louis region between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Rolla is included in the moderate risk area, while Quincy remains in the elevated, or 3 out of 5, risk area.
Several school districts have already announced plans to close early because of the forecast. St. Louis Public Schools plans to dismiss students two hours early and has canceled all after-school activities. Other districts, including Parkway, Kirkwood, Affton University City, Fox C-6, Lincoln County R-III and East Alton District 13 in the Metro East also announced plans to dismiss students early and/or cancel after-school activities.
Additionally, the St. Louis Zoo announced it will close early Monday at 2 p.m. Other groups, agencies and government organizations have also postponed meetings, including the Kirkwood Board of Education, which rescheduled its meeting until Tuesday night, and St. Louis City Hall, which will close at 2 p.m. The city says “essential operations” will continue.
