Thunderstorms Erupt Over Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska

Thunderstorms erupted across the central and southern Plains Wednesday evening, prompting severe thunderstorm watches and warnings across four states.

The weather created spectacular images. Storm chaser and meteorologist Reed Timmer was on the tail of a rotating wall cloud in the Texas Panhandle. Although a tornado never materialized, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for part of Collingsworth County.

Several severe thunderstorm watches stretch across four states: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska are under alert until 11 p.m. local time Wednesday. Dr. Greg Forbes, severe weather expert for The Weather Channel, has posted a TOR:CON of 4 for the eastern Texas Panhandle, which means there's a 4 in 10 chance for a tornado in the area.

The 2014 severe weather season is off to a record-slow start. According to weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman, there has not been an intense tornado, defined as a tornado rated EF3 or higher, as of April 23. That's the longest stretch on record in the U.S.

The quiet streak is likely to come to a crashing halt soon. The tornado threat ramps up in the central and southern Plains this weekend.