No, a hurricane will not hit Missouri and Illinois, but the remnants of one will bring dangerous winds to both Missouri and Illinois starting Friday.

The National Weather Service in St. Louis, Missouri issued this alert today about what Hurricane Helene will bring to Missouri and Illinois once it makes landfall Thursday night. The effects are expected to reach Missouri and Illinois sometime Friday. 

National Weather Service, St. Louis, Missouri
National Weather Service, St. Louis, Missouri
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If you live in Missouri or Illinois and especially in communities that are near or east of the Mississippi River, you can expect winds exceeding 30 mph and possibly as high as 45 mph.

As the National Weather Service in St. Louis mentioned, gusts of wind that strong will turn any object outside into a projectile.

I have to wonder if the rapid intensification of Hurricane Helene will affect impact forecasts for Missouri and Illinois considering it will be packing much more energy than previously expected.

It won't be long before we find out and let's keep our thoughts and prayers with those on the Florida coast who are in the path of this monster storm.

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