Hazardous weather forecast for region

It must be spring. Weather forecasters are warning of the possibility of thunderstorms, hail, winds and even frost this week in the region.

Showers and scattered thunderstorms will move east across the region late today through tonight, according to the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky.

A few storms may produce damaging winds briefly, especially where line segments develop, the agency said.

"Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will exist along a broken squall line over Southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois Wednesday evening," forecasters said. "Hail and damaging winds will be the primary hazards during the early evening. Locally, heavy rain will be the primary concern as these storms move across the Ohio and Wabash rivers late Wednesday night."

In addition to the rain, forecasters reported a potential for scattered frost Friday morning and sub-freezing temperatures late Friday night, Saturday morning and Sunday morning.

They warned farmers and gardeners will need to monitor forecasts and make plans to protect any new plant or treebud growth.