Stormy weather lashes region

It's feeling more like Easter than Christmas in Southeast Missouri, with temperatures in the 60s and severe-weather warnings being issued.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, issued several watches and warnings for the area Wednesday. A tornado watch was in effect all afternoon in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties, among others, in Southeast Missouri, as well as Alexander and Union counties in Illinois.

Several severe-thunderstorm and tornado warnings also were issued throughout the day.

Cape Girardeau County emergency management director Dick Knaup said the department had received no reports of storm damage to residential or business properties.

In Bollinger County, some damage was reported, but it was relatively minor. Laura Shaffer of the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department said a couple of trees were down on Highway 51 North, some roof damage was reported on Route M, and a carport roof was taken off in Sedgewickville, Missouri.

Power outages were reported in Leopold, Missouri, and on Highway 51 North, Shaffer said.

The National Weather Service at Paducah, Kentucky, issued a hazardous-weather outlook Wednesday morning for most of the area. Thunderstorms rolled through Southeast Missouri, causing damage. Ameren Missouri's online outage map showed 118 customers without power as of 3 p.m.

Readings at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport showed 0.49 inches of rain as of 3 p.m.

Intermittent thunderstorms are forecast from Christmas Day through Monday. The primary hazard is heavy rain, according to the weather service, that will be capable of producing localized flooding in poorly drained and low-lying areas.

Some storms Monday also could be severe.

Minor flooding continues along the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau and Thebes, Illinois. While river levels are falling for now, 3 to 6 additional inches of rain are expected through Sunday.

The river stage at Cape Girardeau was 34.7 feet late Wednesday morning, according to noaa.gov. Flood stage is 32 feet.

The National Weather Service stated predicted crests on the river are likely to change over the holiday and weekend.

kwebster@semissourian.com

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