The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch is in effect until 7:00pm for the following counties in Illinois: Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson.
The following Missouri Counties are also included in the Tornado Watch: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, Scott, Perry, Stoddard and Wayne. In Kentucky the watch area includes: Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Crittenden, Graves, McCracken, Henderson, Carlisle, Christian, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Trigg, Union and Webster.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Quad-state region this afternoon. The National Weather Service now says most of the severe activity will likely not move into the region until early afternoon. A wind advisory is in effect for most of the region. Most of southern Illinois, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri could see gusts of 35 to 45 MPH ahead of the storms. The National Weather Service says some of the storms could be severe with damaging winds in excess of 60 MPH this afternoon and evening. An isolated tornado is also possible with the stronger storms. Some of the storms could be intense but should be short in duration.
