Will severe weather impact Belleville’s 2025 Art on the Square? What to know

Severe weather may be in store for the start of downtown Belleville’s Art on the Square weekend.

Friday’s weather forecast for the metro-east shows there’s a 70% chance of storms Friday afternoon and into the evening, according to the National Weather Service. Storms and thunderstorms are likely after 1 p.m. with a high near 87. Wind gusts could reach 29 miles per hour.

“Not everyone is going to see rain,” said Melissa Delia, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. There are “scattered, isolated thunderstorms where some parts [of the area] may see rain, other parts may not.”

With these kinds of storms, possible severe weather is expected, she said. If any of the thunderstorms moving through the area pick up speed, Delia explained, there’s potential for winds up to 70 mph and tornadoes.

Some storms “will be capable of damaging wind gusts, very large hail, and tornadoes,” according to the National Weather Service St. Louis offices current forecast.

Should Friday’s weather become severe, there is a plan in place to keep those at the downtown Belleville event safe.

The Belleville Police Department has protocols in place for these situations, said Rebecca Boyer, co-director for Art on the Square.

Officers will direct people into the Mathis, Marifian & Richter building and the St. Clair County Courthouse parking garage, she said.

The weather forecast improves for the rest of the weekend.

“Saturday is going to be a great day,” said Delia. The chance for rain returns Sunday, but “the day should be pretty dry,” she said.

Belleville’s weekend weather forecast highlights include:

• Friday night: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., then mostly clear, with a low around 60.

• Saturday: Sunny with a high near 79. There is a 20% chance of rain after 1 a.m. and a low around 59.

• Sunday: A 30% chance of showers and mostly sunny with a high near 78. There will be a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy with a low around 62.

Rain is likely with possible thunderstorms forecast for Monday before 1 p.m. with a higher chance (60%) of precipitation later in the day.