Southeast Missouri Could Get First Bout of 2023 Severe Weather Friday

(Farmington) It’s time to start paying attention to the weather as severe thunderstorm season is officially here.

The Regional Radio listening area is expected to get it’s first taste of it, starting Friday afternoon.

Kevin Deitsch is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis.

He held a conference call with media Thursday afternoon and says Friday afternoon through early evening could be rather sketchy.

Deitsch says next week could be active with severe weather too in southeast Missouri and southwestern Illinois.

The listening area will be under an enhanced risk for severe weather Friday afternoon and evening between 1 and 7 o’clock.

If we do have tornadoes in our area, the National Weather Service says they could be strong, up to EF2 in strength.

Scattered hail with a maximum of golf ball sized could be possible as well.

As far as the wind goes, from Thursday night through Saturday morning, we should see sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts possibly over 50 mph at times.

There is a possibility these winds could lift and move unsecure outdoor objects.

Make sure to bring in all your unsecured objects and motorists are asked to drive cautiously and to give high profile vehicles extra room.