Strong storms are underway, which could bring an outbreak of severe thunderstorms and the possibility of strong tornadoes to parts of the Midwest, including the Kansas City region, on Tuesday.
The areas most likely to be affected by the storms are Iowa, northern Missouri, northwestern Illinois, southwestern Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.
The storms will bring damage with winds, some hurricane force, several tornadoes and widespread hail, some as large as baseballs.
The Kansas City region is at increased risk for severe weather, while areas north of the metro, including St. Joseph, are at moderate risk.
There is some uncertainty in the forecast. A cold front is expected to move through the area, and it could be east of Kansas City by the time the storms hit, according to the weather service.
According to Alex Krull, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Kansas City, if the cold front takes longer to produce storms, there is a 40% chance that the metro area will remain relatively dry.
“But once the storms pass, the environment will be ready for all types of hazards,” Krull said in a morning weather briefing.
If tornadoes spawn across the metro area, it would be the second time this week. At least two tornadoes touched down in Johnson County during storms Sunday night.
Timing of the storms
A large cluster of strong thunderstorms swept across southwestern Nebraska and northwestern Kansas, prompting tornado warnings as the storms moved into northwestern Missouri and western Iowa.
Scattered storms were possible Tuesday morning, mainly north of Interstate 70. The weather service said these storms had a limited severe weather threat and could produce only small hail and gusty winds where the storms developed.
However, additional storms were expected to develop, possibly as early as 2 p.m., across northwestern Missouri to north-central Missouri before spreading southward. The storms are expected to leave the area around 9 or 10 p.m
“Discrete storms,” storms that form independently without competing with a series of other storms for energy and space, will be capable of producing hail about two inches in diameter, winds of more than 70 miles per hour, and tornadoes, some of which some, according to the researchers, could be strong. the weather service.
Once the storms develop into a line, hurricane-force winds, hail larger than an inch in diameter and brief tornadoes are possible, the weather service said.
The storms are expected to move east of the US 63 freeway in the Columbia, Missouri area between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 90s on Tuesday.
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Stormy Memorial Day holiday weekend
It will be drier again on Wednesday, with storms likely south of the region, according to the weather service. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 70s, which is average for this time of year in Kansas City.
Showers and thunderstorms return Thursday afternoon, and the stormy weather looks set to continue through the Memorial Day holiday. There are additional chances of severe to severe storms.
People with plans for the holiday weekend, seen by many as the unofficial start of summer, will need to stay aware of the weather.
