Severe thunderstorms with tornadoes blowing through metro-east
The early arrival of spring is bringing early spring weather.
The National Weather Service office in St. Louis has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for all of Madison County and most of St. Clair County, which has since expired.
Radar indicted the possibility of a tornado in Monroe County shortly before 5 p.m.. The warning area shifted northeast, however, through southern parts of St. Clair County and at 5:50 p.m. included only Clinton County and parts of Washington County.
That warning expired at 6:15 p.m.
A thunderstorm that’s following Interstate 70 to the east has been producing high winds and large hail, according to the National Weather Service. Granite City and Glen Carbon are in its path.
At 5:45 p.m., the NWS showed a thunderstorm over Cahokia Heights with reports of golf ball-sized hail and 60 mph winds.
The weather service says the tornadic storms in Monroe County remained mainly over rural areas in the central part of the county including the villages of Maeystown, Wartburg and Burksville.
Radar showed baseball size hail at 4:51 p.m. Spotters reported baseball size hail between Red Bud and Waterloo, according to the National Weather Service.
A thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 9 p.m. Thursday for Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair County.
According to the National Weather service, a warning means a thunderstorm or tornado has been credibly reported or spotted on radar and people in the affected area should take shelter immediately.
A watch means climate conditions are favorable for the development of severe storms or tornadoes.
