Strong weather system expected Friday night, Saturday

Officials with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, continue to monitor a strong weather system approaching the Southeast Missouri area, and it is expected to bring heavy rain, gusty winds and the potential for flash flooding for the first half of the weekend.

A large portion of the region now is in a flash flood watch, which continues through most of Saturday.

Meteorologists are expecting between 3 and 5 inches of rain over the Ozark foothills in Southeast Missouri, the heaviest of which will come between late Friday night and noon Saturday.

During that overnight period, officials say, there also is potential to see a strong, isolated thunderstorm or two.

The wind also will be a factor, with southeast winds Friday shifting to the north between 30 and 40 miles per hour by mid-day Saturday.

As the system clears out of the region late Saturday, the temperature is expected to drop significantly, setting up a small risk for icy roads, which remain wet from the rain.