ST. LOUIS — Hot temperatures will hang on a little while longer today as the cold front slows down. Temperatures are likely to reach the mid-90s with a heat index of 100-103.
Thunderstorm chances will increase along and just ahead of the front this afternoon. The biggest ramp up will be between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. with a band of rain and storms developing just north and west of the metro and slowly sagging southeast from there.
Isolated wind gusts of over 40 mph are possible and I cannot rule out a warning or two for near-severe winds. In addition, the slow motion of these storms will lead to some very localized areas getting several inches of rain. Those will be the exception and not the rule,with most spots receiving well under one inch of rain. The most likely areas to see a few heavier totals will be the northern metro and just north of I-44.
Showers and a few smaller storms will linger tonight through about midday tomorrow before finally pushing south of the region Saturday afternoon.