ST. LOUIS — A strong cold front will move across the region on Thursday, bringing with it a chance for scattered showers and a few strong to severe storms.

The first will come with a complex of thunderstorms that is expected to develop late Wednesday night over northwest Missouri and track southeast, reaching metro St. Louis around noon. This round of storms will be capable of strong wind gusts over central Missouri but should weaken as it approaches the city.

As this first round clears the area, a second round of storms will try and develop over central Missouri and follow along behind the first round, only slightly further to the south.

This round will initially be capable of very large hail, damaging winds and possibly tornadoes. The risk zone with this second round of storms during the afternoon and early evening will be south of I-70.

Between the two rounds of storms, our region will be at risk of some sort of severe weather from late in the morning through early Thursday evening, from roughly 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Much cooler air will take over Friday and for the weekend. Highs will range from the 50s into the lower 60s. Overnight lows in outlying areas will drop into the 30s, and hover in the lower 40s near the city.