Tornado Alert Issued for Central and Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri

More than 5 million people are under a tornado alert across parts of central and southern Illinois, as well as a section of eastern Missouri, including St. Louis, until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, as reported by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC).

“Thunderstorms are expected to rapidly form over eastern Missouri and western Illinois this morning, moving northeast through the watch area,” the SPC cautioned.

The primary dangers from these storms include large hail the size of an egg and wind gusts up to 112 km/h, with a couple of tornadoes also likely to occur.

Areas within the watch zone are currently at a level 3 out of 5 threat from severe thunderstorms. Additional tornado warnings may be issued later Wednesday as the storms head further east.