Intense heat and rain to hit I-70 corridor this weekend

ST. LOUIS -- Temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s this Saturday, with heat index values approaching 100 degrees, as northeastern Missouri and west-central Illinois brace for a hot weekend.

While a Heat Advisory is not in effect, the region will experience near-advisory conditions. The first half of the weekend will remain quiet, but heavy rain and storms are forecasted to move southward Saturday night into Sunday, potentially impacting areas along the I-70 corridor.

The anticipated weather system could bring gusty winds reaching up to 60 MPH on Sunday afternoon and evening. Although severe weather is not expected, any storms that intensify could pose a risk of strong winds.

Communities such as Lincoln County, which recently experienced flooding, may face challenges if heavy rainfall occurs again. However, the exact impact on specific areas remains uncertain.

Looking ahead, next week is predicted to have near-normal temperatures with low-end chances of rain through midweek.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay informed about the weather conditions and prepare for potential storms and high winds over the weekend.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published.