Alert archive / Missouri / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 203, NWS St. Louis, MO

July 4, 2026Saint Louis County, City of Saint Louis, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 4, 2026, 3:30 PM CDT for Saint Louis County, City of Saint Louis, Missouri. It was in force for 45 min. 6 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 4, 2026, 3:30 PM CDT (20:30 UTC)
Expired
Jul 4, 2026, 4:15 PM CDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties City of Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis County, MO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:31 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 4, 3:32 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Nnw Town And Country, MOLarge tree branches down near Ladue Road and Route 141. Twitter report. Time estimated from radar.
Jul 4, 3:42 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Sw Town And Country, MOTree reported down by spotter on Dutch Mill Drive just west of Weidman Road. Time estimated from radar.
Jul 4, 3:56 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Nne Creve Coeur, MOCorrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 NNE Creve Coeur. Large tree down. Time estimated from radar/report.
Jul 4, 3:56 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGMaryland Heights, MOTwo trees down near Creve Coeur Lake. Facebook report. Time estimated from radar.
Jul 4, 4:14 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 S Lakeshire, MOLarge limb (6-8 inches) broken. Time estimated from radar.
Jul 4, 4:23 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 S Lakeshire, MOCorrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1 S Lakeshire. Large limb (6-8 inches) broken.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 5 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 2 minutes after it went out.

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

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 220 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-07-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1075 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-07-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 126 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1075 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-92 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1043 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
126 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

770 
WUUS53 KLSX 042030
SVRLSX
MOC189-510-042115-
/O.NEW.KLSX.SV.W.0203.260704T2030Z-260704T2115Z/

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

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Central Saint Louis County in east central Missouri...
  Saint Louis City in east central Missouri...

* Until 415 PM CDT.

* At 330 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Maryland
  Heights, moving east at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
           roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Maryland Heights, Chesterfield, Ballwin, Manchester, Bridgeton, St.
  Ann, Creve Coeur, Hazelwood, Kirkwood, Overland, Crestwood,
  University City, Clayton, Webster Groves, Florissant, Ferguson, St.
  Louis and Jennings.

This includes the following State Parks...
Scott Joplin Historic Site.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 70 in Missouri near exit 231. Interstate 44 in Missouri
between exits 276 and 277.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 3881 9046 3880 9012 3877 9017 3875 9018
      3873 9021 3870 9021 3867 9019 3863 9018
      3860 9019 3855 9025 3848 9028 3858 9055
      3868 9055 3870 9053 3873 9053 3876 9049
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 277DEG 26KT 3870 9047

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

LE
1 follow-up statement
043 
WWUS53 KLSX 042057
SVSLSX

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

MOC189-510-042115-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0203.000000T0000Z-260704T2115Z/
Saint Louis MO-Saint Louis City MO-
357 PM CDT Sat Jul 4 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR
CENTRAL SAINT LOUIS COUNTY AND THE SAINT LOUIS CITY...

At 357 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hillsdale,
moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Chesterfield, Ballwin, Manchester, St. Ann, Creve Coeur, Hazelwood,
  Kirkwood, Overland, Crestwood, University City, Florissant,
  Clayton, Ferguson, Webster Groves, St. Louis, Jennings and
  Bellefontaine Neighbors.

This includes the following State Parks...
Scott Joplin Historic Site.

This includes Interstate 44 in Missouri between exits 276 and 277.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large
hail.

&&

LAT...LON 3848 9028 3858 9055 3865 9055 3867 9045
      3872 9039 3881 9036 3880 9012 3877 9017
      3875 9018 3873 9021 3870 9021 3867 9019
      3863 9018 3860 9019 3855 9025
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 279DEG 21KT 3870 9047

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

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 23 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 23 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 13 minutes 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, 3:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLSXCrawford, Washington35 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.