Alert archive / Missouri / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 232, NWS St. Louis, MO

August 12, 2026Franklin County, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 12, 2026, 5:19 PM CDT for Franklin County, Missouri. It was in force for 41 min. 4 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
Aug 12, 2026, 5:19 PM CDT (22:19 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2026, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Franklin County, MO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 46 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:18 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
Aug 12, 5:28 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGUnion, MOMultiple lines down around Union.
Aug 12, 5:32 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGSaint Clair, MOTrees and powerlines down. Time estimated by radar. Report relayed by KTVI-TV.
Aug 12, 5:34 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Nw Moselle, MOLarge trees down. Sizes are estimated to be about 12 inches in diameter.
Aug 12, 5:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGSullivan, MOLots of tree damage across town. Time estimated.

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 4 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 9 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 nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 286 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 2026-08-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2166 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 2026-08-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 50 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2166 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-186 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1652 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

898 
WUUS53 KLSX 122219
SVRLSX
MOC071-122300-
/O.NEW.KLSX.SV.W.0232.260812T2219Z-260812T2300Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service St Louis MO
519 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southern Franklin County in east central Missouri...

* Until 600 PM CDT.

* At 519 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
  over Washington to 5 miles south of Rosebud, or along a line from
  over Washington to 7 miles east of Owensville, moving southeast at
  40 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Union, Villa Ridge, St. Clair, Japan, Moselle, Gray Summit,
  Parkway, Stanton, Sullivan, Robertsville, Piney Park, Catawissa,
  Miramiguoa Park, Pacific and Lonedell.

This includes the following State Parks...
Robertsville State Park and Meramec State Park.

This includes Interstate 44 in Missouri between exits 225 and 257.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. These storms are capable of producing damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 3821 9137 3838 9116 3854 9095 3854 9093
      3853 9092 3855 9088 3855 9086 3854 9074
      3842 9074 3820 9078 3820 9087 3821 9097
      3820 9099 3820 9136
TIME...MOT...LOC 2219Z 300DEG 34KT 3853 9100 3844 9104 3832 9138

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

$$

Carney
3 follow-up statements
876 
WWUS53 KLSX 122237
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
537 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

MOC071-122300-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0232.000000T0000Z-260812T2300Z/
Franklin MO-
537 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY...

At 537 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
over Gray Summit to over Sullivan, moving southeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Union, St. Clair, Parkway, Villa Ridge, Japan, Gray Summit, Piney
  Park, Stanton, Moselle, Sullivan, Miramiguoa Park, Robertsville,
  Catawissa, Lonedell and Pacific.

This includes the following State Parks...
Robertsville State Park and Meramec State Park.

This includes Interstate 44 in Missouri between exits 225 and 257.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. These storms are capable of producing damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 3821 9137 3838 9116 3854 9095 3854 9093
      3853 9092 3855 9088 3855 9086 3854 9074
      3842 9074 3820 9078 3820 9087 3821 9097
      3820 9099 3820 9136
TIME...MOT...LOC 2219Z 304DEG 34KT 3856 9099 3838 9107 3832 9139

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

$$

Carney
310 
WWUS53 KLSX 122245
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
545 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

MOC071-122300-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0232.000000T0000Z-260812T2300Z/
Franklin MO-
545 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY...

At 545 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
near Pacific to over Sullivan, moving southeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and small hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
  Union, St. Clair, Villa Ridge, Parkway, Gray Summit, Japan,
  Moselle, Stanton, Piney Park, Sullivan, Robertsville, Miramiguoa
  Park, Lonedell, Catawissa and Pacific.

This includes the following State Parks...
Robertsville State Park and Meramec State Park.

This includes Interstate 44 in Missouri between exits 225 and 257.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Seek shelter inside a well-built structure and stay away from
windows. These storms are capable of producing damaging winds.

&&

LAT...LON 3821 9137 3838 9116 3854 9095 3854 9093
      3853 9092 3855 9088 3855 9086 3854 9074
      3842 9074 3820 9078 3820 9087 3821 9097
      3820 9099 3820 9136
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 310DEG 38KT 3847 9080 3829 9088 3824 9120

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

$$

Carney
021 
WWUS53 KLSX 122303
SVSLSX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service St Louis MO
603 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

MOC071-122313-
/O.EXP.KLSX.SV.W.0232.000000T0000Z-260812T2300Z/
Franklin MO-
603 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHERN FRANKLIN
COUNTY...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been allowed to expire. However, gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with these thunderstorms.

&&

LAT...LON 3821 9137 3838 9116 3854 9095 3854 9093
      3853 9092 3855 9088 3855 9086 3854 9074
      3842 9074 3820 9078 3820 9087 3821 9097
      3820 9099 3820 9136
TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 310DEG 38KT 3842 9073 3824 9081 3818 9113

$$

Carney

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 Aug 12, 2:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Dangerous heat and humidity will continue for much of the area through Saturday, and potentially into Sunday.
  • Temperatures and humidity levels are expected to drop back closer to normal levels early next week behind a cold front, providing a reprieve from the heat.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 12, 2:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service St Louis MO
245 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dangerous heat and humidity will continue for much of the area
through Saturday, and potentially into Sunday.

- Temperatures and humidity levels are expected to drop back
  closer to normal levels early next week behind a cold front,
  providing a reprieve from the heat.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 244 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

GOES-19 visible satellite imagery and radar imagery show a
couple of features of interest. One is an MCV near the Iowa-
Illinois border moving east/southeast. Lift downstream of this
feature (along with cooling aloft) has helped initiate
convection along a remnant outflow boundary near the Illinois-
Indiana border. Additional development farther to the southwest
along the boundary is possible, but storms generally now are
much more likely to stay to our east. Therefore, the severe
threat has lessened across the area quite a bit. That being
said, IF any storm were to develop in our area, there is plenty
of instability (SBCAPE 4000+ J/kg) and seasonably strong 0-6 km
shear (20-30 knots). There is also ongoing (elevated) showers
and a few thunderstorms across northeast Missouri and west-
central Illinois. These storms have percolated all day and have
really augmented the surface environment. Temperatures have been
quite a bit cooler than forecast, with readings mostly in the
70s to low 80s. As a result, have cancelled the heat advisory
across portions of northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois.
This activity should in theory wane and dissipate over the next
few hours as 850-hPa flow further weakens and its associated
moisture convergence.

Global guidance as well as CAMs are in pretty good agreement that
another MCS will track eastward across Iowa late tonight into
Thursday morning. This should stay north of us, though elevated
showers/thunderstorms are possible along/north of the quasi-
stationary front. Where exactly it will be is not certain, but best
chances are roughly along/east of the Mississippi River. This front
is then expected to move slowly northeastward through the day and
take the better chances of showers and storms with it on Thursday.
CAMs do have some isolated thunderstorm development within the warm
sector, which seems plausible given a weaker cap likely in place.
There will be another very unstable atmosphere in place along with
still seasonably strong deep-layer shear (20-25+ knots). Therefore,
a mix of pulse/multicellular clusters are possible with damaging
winds the main threat. There may even be a low probability for a
supercell to travel along the boundary, though this threat may be
just to our northeast, if it happens at all. As for the heat, there
remains high confidence in another very hot/humid day for most, with
highs in the 90s and peak heat index values of 105-110F. The
exception if parts of northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois.
Morning convective debris clouds along with possible outflow from
the MCS are certainly plausible, which could limit temperatures. A
slower poleward movement of the front also could happen and keep
readings a bit cooler than expected. Have left those areas out of
any heat products tomorrow as a result.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 244 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

(Thursday Night - Sunday Night)

A near repeat is expected Thursday night into Friday with yet
another MCS likely moving just to our north. This means that exact
temperatures and heat index values in parts of northeast Missouri
and west-central Illinois. Farther south however, the dangerous heat
and humidity will continue at least through Saturday. Temperatures
may rise slightly with each day as the low-level thermal ridge moves
overhead. These rising temperatures though may be offset by lower
dewpoints as topsoil continues to dry out in many locations without
any significant rain in 7+ days. That means that peak heat index
values each day are likely to stay about the same, generally in the
105-110F range. Due to the longevity of these values south of I-70,
did go ahead and convert the remainder of the advisory in southeast
Missouri over to an extreme heat warning.

Confidence decreases by Sunday as there are differences with the
timing of a cold front. In addition, there is a signal for another
potential MCS late Saturday night into Sunday morning, but this
time, it may be farther south and impact parts of the area. This
leaves much of the area very uncertain for specific high
temperatures and peak heat index values and was why heat headlines
were not extended through Sunday. However, the farther south you
travel, the better chance for another day of dangerous heat and
humidity. There may also be at least a low threat for a few strong
to severe thunderstorms along/ahead of the front Sunday afternoon-
evening given high instability and 20-25+ knots of deep-layer shear
expected, but exactly where is heavily dependent on the exact cold
frontal timing.

(Monday - Next Wednesday)

Behind the front, both temperatures and humidity levels are expected
to come back closer to normal mid August levels. However, it is
definitely a summer front where the dewpoint/humidity drop is slow.
Therefore, a slower frontal passage than expected could mean another
day with near 100 degree heat index values in southeast
Missouri/southwest Illinois. By Tuesday however, heat index values
should stay in the 90s areawide.

Forecast uncertainty increases heading toward midweek (and beyond).
Clusters of the 500-hPa height pattern show the overall variability
well, with differences in placement and strength of the midlevel
ridge as well as a trough crossing the Great Lakes/southeast Canada.
If the ridge is stronger/more to the east, we may return to
dangerous heat and humidity. However, a weaker ridge centered more
to the southwest may allow another cold front to move through and
continue the more near-normal temperatures (and bring renewed
chances of showers and thunderstorms). The overall membership of the
LREF is pretty split between these two scenarios, though I will note
that this is a bit of a change compared to yesterday, which
suggested a quick return to the dangerous heat and humidity.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1226 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

An outflow boundary is currently passing through the metro. It
has weakened, though a brief wind shift to the north/northwest
may happen (~6-8 knots) before they back to the west/southwest
once again. Weak showers and thunderstorms may continue to
percolate across northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois
the next few hours. Brief reductions in visibility may occur at
KUIN early this afternoon. Farther south, additional
thunderstorms may fire along/near the aforementioned outflow
boundary in the next 1-2 hours. Have therefore bumped up the
PROB30 groups in the metro accordingly.

&&

.LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MO...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT Saturday for MOZ034>036-042-052.
     Extreme Heat Warning until 9 PM CDT Saturday for MOZ041-
     047>051-059>065-072>075-084-085-099.
IL...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT Saturday for ILZ058>060-064-065-
     070-098-099.
     Extreme Heat Warning until 9 PM CDT Saturday for ILZ069-074-
     079-100>102.

&&

SHORT TERM...Gosselin
LONG TERM...Gosselin
AVIATION...Gosselin

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 4:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCallaway, Gasconade, Montgomery, Osage39 min
Aug 12, 4:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Gasconade45 min
Aug 12, 5:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSaint Charles30 min
Aug 12, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Jefferson, Washington62 min
Aug 12, 6:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSainte Genevieve, Saint Francois, Washington65 min
Aug 12, 6:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXSainte Genevieve62 min

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.