Alert archive / Missouri / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 233, NWS St. Louis, MO

August 12, 2026Crawford County, Jefferson County, Washington County, Missouri

NWS St. Louis, MO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 12, 2026, 5:43 PM CDT for Crawford County, Jefferson County, Washington County, Missouri. It was in force for 62 min. 2 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, 5:43 PM CDT (22:43 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2026, 6:45 PM CDT
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS St. Louis, MO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Crawford County, MO, Jefferson County, MO, Washington County, MO

The radar

The St Louis radar (KLSX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:46 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, 6:20 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 Ne De Soto, MOApproximately 8 inch tree or tree limb down on house and power lines. Time estimated by radar.
Aug 12, 6:20 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGGrubville, MOTree limbs damaged.

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 2 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 37 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, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 280 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.

865 
WUUS53 KLSX 122243
SVRLSX
MOC055-099-221-122345-
/O.NEW.KLSX.SV.W.0233.260812T2243Z-260812T2345Z/

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

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northeastern Crawford County in east central Missouri...
  Jefferson County in east central Missouri...
  Northern Washington County in east central Missouri...

* Until 645 PM CDT.

* At 543 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
  5 miles south of Pacific to near Bourbon, 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...
  Sullivan, Bourbon, Dittmer, Cedar Hill Lakes, Cedar Hill,
  Richwoods, Byrnes Mill, House Springs, Anthonies Mill, Hillsboro,
  De Soto, Antonia, Barnhart, Olympian Village, Horine, Pevely,
  Herculaneum, Festus and Crystal City.

This includes the following State Parks...
Washington State Park, Mastodon Historic Site, Sandy Creek Covered
Bridge Historic Site and Gov. Dunklin's Grave Historic Site.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 44 in Missouri near exit 218. Interstate 55 in Missouri
between exits 170 and 187.

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 3820 9135 3820 9078 3848 9073 3846 9068
      3845 9069 3846 9066 3839 9035 3832 9037
      3822 9036 3816 9027 3812 9025 3809 9033
      3804 9042 3800 9059 3801 9063 3802 9061
      3807 9061 3808 9063 3803 9067 3806 9108
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 309DEG 38KT 3841 9076 3830 9077 3824 9083 3821
9125

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

$$

Carney
3 follow-up statements
778 
WWUS53 KLSX 122300
SVSLSX

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

MOC055-099-221-122345-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0233.000000T0000Z-260812T2345Z/
Crawford MO-Jefferson MO-Washington MO-
600 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN CRAWFORD, JEFFERSON AND NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN
EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI...

At 600 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
over Cedar Hill Lakes to near Anthonies Mill, or along a line from
near Cedar Hill to near Anthonies Mill, moving southeast at 35 mph.

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

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
  Sullivan, St. Cloud, Grubville, Bourbon, Oermann, Richwoods,
  Dittmer, Cedar Hill, Cedar Hill Lakes, Fletcher, Morse Mill,
  Anthonies Mill, De Soto, Hillsboro, Victoria, Hematite, Valles
  Mill, Festus, Olympian Village and Crystal City.

This includes the following State Parks...
Washington State Park and Sandy Creek Covered Bridge Historic Site.

This includes the following highways...
Interstate 44 in Missouri near exit 218. Interstate 55 in Missouri
between exits 170 and 175.

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 3820 9135 3820 9078 3840 9074 3820 9034
      3816 9027 3812 9025 3809 9033 3804 9042
      3800 9059 3801 9063 3802 9061 3807 9061
      3808 9063 3803 9067 3806 9108
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 316DEG 32KT 3841 9079 3830 9080 3824 9087 3821
9128

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

$$

Carney
642 
WWUS53 KLSX 122331
SVSLSX

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

MOC055-122341-
/O.CAN.KLSX.SV.W.0233.000000T0000Z-260812T2345Z/
Crawford MO-
631 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHEASTERN CRAWFORD
COUNTY...

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, gusty winds and
heavy rain are still possible with these thunderstorms.

&&

LAT...LON 3805 9088 3817 9074 3825 9048 3820 9034
      3816 9028 3813 9025 3812 9025 3809 9033
      3804 9042 3800 9058 3801 9063 3802 9061
      3807 9061 3808 9063 3803 9067
TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 316DEG 32KT 3830 9067 3819 9067 3814 9074 3810
9116

$$


MOC099-221-122345-
/O.CON.KLSX.SV.W.0233.000000T0000Z-260812T2345Z/
Jefferson MO-Washington MO-
631 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHERN JEFFERSON AND NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN EAST
CENTRAL MISSOURI...

At 631 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line from
over Olympian Village to 8 miles west of Potosi, or along a line from
8 miles east of De Soto to 8 miles west of Potosi, moving southeast
at 35 mph.

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

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

Locations impacted include...
  Fletcher, De Soto, Hillsboro, Mapaville, Victoria, Hematite, Valles
  Mill, Festus, Olympian Village and Crystal City.

This includes the following State Parks...
Washington State Park.

This includes Interstate 55 in Missouri between exits 170 and 175.

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 3805 9088 3817 9074 3825 9048 3820 9034
      3816 9028 3813 9025 3812 9025 3809 9033
      3804 9042 3800 9058 3801 9063 3802 9061
      3807 9061 3808 9063 3803 9067
TIME...MOT...LOC 2300Z 316DEG 32KT 3830 9067 3819 9067 3814 9074 3810
9116

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

$$

Carney
399 
WWUS53 KLSX 122347
SVSLSX

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

MOC099-221-122357-
/O.EXP.KLSX.SV.W.0233.000000T0000Z-260812T2345Z/
Jefferson MO-Washington MO-
647 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTHERN JEFFERSON AND
NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3805 9088 3817 9074 3825 9048 3820 9034
      3816 9028 3813 9025 3812 9025 3809 9033
      3804 9042 3800 9058 3801 9063 3802 9061
      3807 9061 3808 9063 3803 9067
TIME...MOT...LOC 2331Z 316DEG 32KT 3810 9042 3799 9043 3794 9050 3790
9091

$$

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 58 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 58 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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 12, 5:36 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
536 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

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

0454 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     4 W Warrenton           38.83N 91.21W
08/12/2026                   Warren             MO   Emergency Mngr

            Warren Co EM reported a tree down across
            Meadowlark Street and NW Service Road west
            of Warrenton.

&&

Maples
Local storm report, Aug 12, 5:38 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
538 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

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

0528 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Union                   38.45N 91.01W
08/12/2026                   Franklin           MO   Emergency Mngr

            Multiple lines down around Union.

&&

Maples
Local storm report, Aug 12, 5:40 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service St Louis MO
540 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

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

0459 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     New Haven               38.61N 91.22W
08/12/2026                   Franklin           MO   Emergency Mngr

            Power lines reported down in New Haven. Time
            estimated by radar.

&&

Maples

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, 5:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin41 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.