Storms tonight, Thursday could become severe

The National Weather Service in Paducah says record warm weather will spawn thunderstorms that could become severe tonight and tomorrow morning.

Today's record high temperature of 73 set in 1954 could be matched or broken this afternoon.
 
Scattered thunderstorms will move north and east from mid to late evening across southeast Missouri, the southern tip of Illinois and western Kentucky. Strong storms will be possible, along with a slight chance of a severe storm or two capable of marginally severe hail up to an inch, and locally strong wind gusts.

On Thursday morning, scattered thunderstorms will remain possible mainly east of the Mississippi River. A few strong to locally severe storms cannot be ruled out, especially into the Kentucky Pennyrile region from mid morning until midday or early afternoon. Damaging wind gusts should be the primary hazard if severe storms develop.