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© Paul KPhoto of a towering thunderstorm cloud, submitted by AccuWeather.com Facebook fan Paul K. on Saturday.
Strong thunderstorms are threatening to ruin St. Patrick's Day celebrations from southern Missouri to southern Indiana into this evening.

The stage is set for potent thunderstorms to erupt from St. Louis and Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Louisville, Ky., with record warmth and moist air in place.

Other cities at risk include Cape Girardeau, Mo., Paducah, Ky., and Evansville, Ind.

Some of the same areas being threatened this St. Patrick's Day were the targets of the massive tornado outbreak earlier this month.

A repeat of that outbreak is not expected since any tornado that touches down into this evening will be an isolated event. Damaging winds, hail and downpours are greater concerns.

Even if a storm-related warning is not issued for your area, be sure to seek shelter immediately once thunder is heard. The sound of thunder means you are close enough to get struck by lightning.

The severe weather danger will lessen across the lower Ohio Valley later this evening following the loss of daytime heating.

Attention will then turn toward an outbreak of severe weather, including tornadoes, that will expand from the southern Plains to the South and Ohio Valley next week.