Alert archive / Missouri / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 202, NWS St. Louis, MO

July 4, 2026Crawford County, Washington County, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 4, 2026, 3:17 PM CDT for Crawford County, Washington County, Missouri. It was in force for 35 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 4, 2026, 3:17 PM CDT (20:17 UTC)
Expired
Jul 4, 2026, 3:52 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
70.0 mph

Counties Crawford County, MO, Washington County, MO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:20 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 4, 12:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 246 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 2026-07-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1944 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Springfield, MO at 12:00Z on 2026-07-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 8 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1944 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1008 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
1 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

428 
WUUS53 KLSX 042017
SVRLSX
MOC055-221-042115-
/O.NEW.KLSX.SV.W.0202.260704T2017Z-260704T2115Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service St Louis MO
317 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Crawford County in east central Missouri...
  West Central Washington County in east central Missouri...

* Until 415 PM CDT.

* At 317 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
  near Cuba to 18 miles southwest of Steelville, moving southeast at
  20 mph.

  HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable
           tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes,
           roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include...
  Cuba, Steelville, Cook Station, Cherryville, Davisville and
  Dillard.

This includes the following State Parks...
Onondaga Cave State Park and Dillard Mill Historic Site.

This includes Interstate 44 in Missouri between exits 203 and 208.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Anyone outdoors should move to shelter inside a well-built structure
and stay away from windows. These storms are capable of producing
widespread damaging winds and large hail.

&&

LAT...LON 3810 9153 3806 9095 3774 9110 3774 9115
      3770 9115 3770 9131 3779 9131 3779 9153
TIME...MOT...LOC 2016Z 308DEG 16KT 3804 9135 3791 9146 3781 9162

THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...70 MPH

$$

LE
2 follow-up statements
833 
WWUS53 KLSX 042040
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
340 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

MOC055-221-042115-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0202.000000T0000Z-260704T2115Z/
Crawford MO-Washington MO-
340 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHERN CRAWFORD AND WEST CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN EAST
CENTRAL MISSOURI...

At 340 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from 6
miles east of Steelville to 15 miles southwest of Cherryville, or
along a line from 6 miles east of Steelville to 18 miles southwest of
Steelville, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable
         tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes,
         roofs, and outbuildings.

Locations impacted include...
  Steelville, Cook Station, Cherryville, Davisville and Dillard.

This includes the following State Parks...
Onondaga Cave State Park and Dillard Mill Historic Site.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Anyone outdoors should move to shelter inside a well-built structure
and stay away from windows. These storms are capable of producing
widespread damaging winds and large hail.

&&

LAT...LON 3779 9153 3808 9128 3806 9095 3774 9110
      3774 9115 3770 9115 3770 9131 3779 9131
TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 308DEG 16KT 3804 9135 3790 9146 3781 9161

THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...70 MPH

$$

LE
758 
WWUS53 KLSX 042052
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
352 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

MOC055-221-042102-
/O.CAN.KLSX.SV.W.0202.000000T0000Z-260704T2115Z/
Crawford MO-Washington MO-
352 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHERN CRAWFORD AND
WEST CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI...

The storms which prompted the warning have weakened below severe
limits, and no longer pose an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. However, heavy rain is
still possible with these thunderstorms.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for a
portion of east central Missouri.

&&

LAT...LON 3779 9153 3808 9128 3806 9095 3774 9110
      3774 9115 3770 9115 3770 9131 3779 9131
TIME...MOT...LOC 2040Z 308DEG 16KT 3797 9125 3784 9135 3774 9151

$$

LE

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS St. Louis, MO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 4, 1:07 PM CDT, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Dangerously hot and humid conditions with heat index values from around 100-105 continue today. Heat Advisories and an Extreme Heat Warning remain in effect until 800 PM.
  • There is a chance for thunderstorms today and tonight. Some storms may be strong to severe and capable of producing 50-60 mph winds as well as hail up to 1 inch in diameter and locally heavy downpours.
  • The chance for showers and thunderstorms continues into early next week, with temperatures closer to normal in the mid 80s to around 90.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 1:07 PM CDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...Updated Aviation
National Weather Service Saint Louis MO
107 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dangerously hot and humid conditions with heat index values
  from around 100-105 continue today. Heat Advisories and an
  Extreme Heat Warning remain in effect until 800 PM.

- There is a chance for thunderstorms today and tonight. Some
  storms may be strong to severe and capable of producing 50-60
  mph winds as well as hail up to 1 inch in diameter and locally
  heavy downpours.

- The chance for showers and thunderstorms continues into early
  next week, with temperatures closer to normal in the mid 80s to
  around 90.

&&

.SHORT TERM...  (Through Late Tonight)
Issued at 343 AM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

Convective trends are very difficult to forecast today. Clusters
of thunderstorms over northwest Missouri and central Illinois are
pushing outflow boundaries east and south respectively. More
convection may continue to pop up over central Missouri as well,
which will reinforce the boundary if it gets strong enough. Either
boundary is a potential focus for thunderstorm development today,
and the boundaries could collide which would also be a great
forcing mechanism for convective development.

Clouds from morning convection that linger into the afternoon and/or
continuing scattered afternoon convection would almost certainly
suppress temperatures and end the excessive heat today. However,
timing and coverage is uncertain given the complex interactions
which will take place today.  If coverage remains limited this
morning, temperatures could easily recover to reach heat index
values between 95-105. While this isn't as hot as earlier in the
week, the duration of this heat wave continues to support the
current headlines, particularly since there will be a lot of people
outside for Independence Day celebrations. GFS and RAP show 2000-
4000 J/Kg CAPE developing this afternoon with as much as 25kts of
deep layer shear.  This would support multi-cell clusters with the
potential to produce damaging winds.  Think the chance for
thunderstorms will generally decrease in the evening with loss of
daytime heating, but there will still be a lingering thunderstorm
threat to Independence Day celebrations beyond sunset.

Carney

&&

.LONG TERM...  (Sunday through Friday)
Issued at 343 AM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

There's little change to the remainder of the forecast for Sunday
through next Friday.  A short wave digs into the Mississippi Valley
Sunday which pushes a weak cold front through the area.  Global
guidance members diverge somewhat Monday in how they handle the
wave.  The GFS digs the base of the trough deep into the Lower
Mississippi Valley where it fractures late Tuesday leaving a cut off
low over eastern Texas/western Louisiana.  The ECMWF begins this
process much earlier on Monday night which puts the cut off low
farther north over Oklahoma and Arkansas.  The more northern
solution seems to be favored by the NBM and the LREF mean which are
keeping precipitation chances going at least through Tuesday as the
closed low moves slowly northeast and is finally reintegrated into
the mean flow.  While there's a relatively dry period on Wednesday,
precipitation chances return Thursday and Friday as another short
wave moves across the Mid Mississippi Valley.  Temperatures through
the period should be closer to seasonal normal as upper level long
wave ridging will remain well west of the area.

Carney

&&

.AVIATION...  (For the 18z TAFs through 18z Sunday Afternoon)
Issued at 1255 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

There is a threat for multiple rounds of thunderstorms at all of
the local terminals through the TAF period. Isolated to scattered
showers and storms are in the broader vicinity of all local
terminals except for KUIN, with these posing a threat for early in
the period. Our attention then turns to a cluster of storms moving
eastward out of western Missouri and a cold front sinking
southward into the region late this afternoon and evening.
Both will serve as a focus for a greater threat of thunderstorms
capable of erratic, gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Confidence is
low on the timing of these stronger storms, so chances have been
left to PROB30 groups for now. Once confidence increases, TEMPO or
prevailing groups will be needed for some of the terminals. A lull
in rain chances is expected tonight, with a low chance for showers
and thunderstorms again late in the period tomorrow.

Elmore

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for Audrain MO-
     Crawford MO-Iron MO-Knox MO-Lewis MO-Lincoln MO-Madison MO-
     Marion MO-Monroe MO-Pike MO-Ralls MO-Reynolds MO-Saint
     Francois MO-Shelby MO-Washington MO.

     Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for Boone MO-
     Callaway MO-Cole MO-Franklin MO-Gasconade MO-Jefferson MO-
     Moniteau MO-Montgomery MO-Osage MO-Saint Charles MO-Saint
     Louis City MO-Saint Louis MO-Sainte Genevieve MO-Warren MO.

IL...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for Adams IL-Bond IL-
     Brown IL-Calhoun IL-Fayette IL-Greene IL-Jersey IL-Macoupin
     IL-Marion IL-Montgomery IL-Pike IL.

     Extreme Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for Clinton IL-
     Madison IL-Monroe IL-Randolph IL-Saint Clair IL-Washington
     IL.

&&

WFO LSX

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 4, 2:17 PM CDT, 1 hour before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
217 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0213 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 W California          38.63N 92.58W
07/04/2026                   Moniteau           MO   Trained Spotter

            6 inch tree limb snapped on west side of
            California with the gust front passage.

&&

AE

The office that day

Everything else NWS St. Louis, MO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 4, 1:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXCole, Moniteau66 min
Jul 4, 2:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXBoone, Callaway, Cole, Osage75 min
Jul 4, 2:26 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXSaint Louis, City of Saint Louis5 hr
Jul 4, 2:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Warren, Washington67 min
Jul 4, 3:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Louis, City of Saint Louis45 min
Jul 4, 3:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Jefferson43 min
Jul 4, 4:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles, Saint Louis32 min
Jul 4, 4:26 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLSXSaint Louis, City of Saint Louis5 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Missouri, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.