SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — A severe weather threat has shifted from Monday to Tuesday May 19 after the tracking system slowed down, with a few severe storms now appearing possible Tuesday afternoon into the overnight hours along a cold front pushing through southern Illinois, St. Louis, and surrounding communities.
The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted much of southern Illinois with a 15 percent slight risk Level 2 out of 5 as of the 1:00 AM CDT May 14 outlook, with damaging winds and hail identified as the main risks for the region.
Cold Front Pushing Severe Storm Chances Into Southern Illinois Tuesday Afternoon
The system that forecasters have been monitoring has slowed its forward progress, pushing the severe weather window back from Monday into Tuesday afternoon and overnight as the cold front takes more time to advance through the region.
A few severe storms are expected to develop along the cold front Tuesday afternoon, targeting communities across southern Illinois including St. Louis, Vandalia, Edwardsville, Lake St. Louis, Waterloo, Effingham, Salem, Mount Vernon, Benton, and Carlyle.
The afternoon into overnight timing means residents across the southern Illinois corridor should remain weather aware throughout the entire second half of Tuesday as storm chances persist well into the nighttime hours.
Damaging Winds and Hail Identified as Main Risks With Tornado Threat Still Unknown
Forecasters have identified damaging winds and hail as the two primary hazards associated with Tuesday’s severe storm potential across southern Illinois and the surrounding region.
The tornado risk for Tuesday May 19 remains unknown at this time, with forecasters indicating they will provide updates on the tornado potential as the event gets closer and the storm setup comes into sharper focus over the coming days.
The 15 percent slight risk zone covers a significant portion of southern Illinois with a 30 percent probability zone indicated further south across portions of Missouri, Arkansas, and surrounding areas based on the current SPC outlook.
Severe Weather Risk Shifted From Monday to Tuesday as System Slowed
The timing shift from Monday to Tuesday is an important update for residents who had been tracking this system as a Monday threat, as the slowing of the cold front has pushed the entire severe weather window back by roughly 24 hours.
Communities across southern Illinois from the St. Louis metro area southward through Paducah, Jackson, Poplar Bluff, and Union City now need to focus their severe weather preparations on Tuesday afternoon and overnight rather than Monday.
Forecasters have committed to providing additional updates as Tuesday approaches and more clarity develops around the tornado risk, wind threat, and hail potential associated with this cold front severe weather event. Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest updates.
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