Drivers Advised To Exercise Caution During Flash Flood Warnings

GRANITE CITY/GLEN CARBON — Drivers across the Metro East region received a brief break from Monday’s heavy rain Tuesday morning, but forecasters said more stormy weather is expected later in the day and evening, including the potential for thunderstorms, lightning, and hail.

The Metro East, including the Granite City, Edwardsville, and Glen Carbon vicinities, saw difficult commute travel during Monday evening, May 18, 2026, depicted in the photos above and below. Heavy rainfall left the roads wet. One vehicle was observed crashed off the road on I-270. Many drivers were observed traveling too fast for the conditions on area highways.

After the dry stretch on Tuesday morning, rain is forecast to return Tuesday afternoon or evening. Forecasters said the most anticipated window for possible thunderstorms is between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday. Several flash flood alerts were issued on Monday by the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service in St. Louis said a cold front is expected to bring another round of storms.

“A cold front will move through the area today, bringing another chance for thunderstorms and heavy rain,” the agency said Tuesday. “If the clouds clear out behind the thunderstorms this morning, there will be a higher risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and this evening, particularly over southwest Illinois and southeast Missouri.”

Mark Fuchs, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, urged caution when flash flood warnings are issued.

“When a flash flood warning is in effect, drivers need to be wary of water flowing across roadways,” Fuchs said. “When we put flash flood warnings out, it is something to be aware of and know the potential exists, see water flowing across the road, turn around and don’t chance it.”

Emergency management officials also shared guidance for flash flooding, encouraging residents to enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on their phones and to move to higher ground if flooding occurs outdoors. The tips warn against entering floodwaters in a vehicle or on foot and advise drivers not to go around barricades closing flooded roads.

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