St. Louis is in for a mostly cloudy Friday with a high near 80°F and a 50% chance of rain showers arriving after 11 a.m. CT — the coolest day you’ll see for a while, so get outside early if you can, because a bigger heat problem is building right behind it.
Today’s Setup
Overnight lows sat around 63°F before climbing back toward 67°F, and a light east breeze around 1 mph kept things calm before sunrise. The National Weather Service St. Louis says a shortwave moving out of the Central Plains will track through the Middle Mississippi Valley today into early Saturday, bringing scattered showers and a few weak thunderstorms. Thanks to the clouds and rain, today’s high will struggle to break out of the 80s — the last cool-ish day before a ridge builds in this weekend.
Best Window To Be Outside
Morning is your window. Winds stay light (3 mph southeast), and showers aren’t expected until after 11 a.m., so a dog walk at Forest Park or Tower Grove Park before lunch should stay dry. By afternoon and into Friday night, showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms (51% chance) move in with a low around 68°F.
Rain, Heat, And Flood Risk
Forecasters note precipitable water values around 2 inches and a warm cloud layer near 10,000 feet, which means any shower or storm today and tomorrow could dump rain quickly. High-resolution models show isolated totals of 3-4 inches possible mainly along and south of I-70 through early Saturday, though confidence isn’t high enough yet for a Flood Watch — just something to watch if you’re near low-lying spots. The bigger headline: an Extreme Heat Watch is in effect Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening as dangerous heat and humidity build in. Now’s a smart time to stock up on a 5-gallon water storage container in case outages hit during the peak heat.
What To Wear Or Bring
Today, pack a light rain layer for afternoon errands. As the heat ramps up this weekend, sun protection matters more — the UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie deal we found for $5 is worth grabbing before prices move, and it’s ideal for anyone heading to the ballpark or the river. Check our outdoor gear deals for more picks before the heat lands.
This Weekend And Next Few Days
Saturday brings a high near 88°F with lingering shower and thunderstorm chances, especially before 7 a.m., ahead of the Cardinals vs Reds game at Busch Stadium. Tailgaters should pack a Yeti hopper soft cooler and keep an eye on the sky early. St. Louis Cardinals jersey and St. Louis Cardinals fitted cap gear plus tickets on SeatGeek are worth grabbing now. Tonight, Bryan Adams: Roll with the Punches plays Enterprise Center indoors, unaffected by the rain, while the outdoor 5 Seconds of Summer show at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater — read our event preview — could see a damp evening given the 51% overnight rain chance. For dinner on a cool, showery night, a warm bowl of pasta or a quick stir-fry hits the spot. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon, and Amazon Fresh groceries makes it easy to have everything delivered before the rain rolls in. Looking ahead, expect Sunday through Tuesday to turn hot and humid fast as the Extreme Heat Watch takes hold — plan outdoor activities for early morning once that heat arrives.
