Where The Severe Threat Ramps Up This Weekend

A dangerous round of severe weather is ramping up again across the Plains today, where communities from Nebraska and Kansas into Iowa and Missouri could be facing powerful tornadoes, destructive winds, giant hail and flash flooding by the end of the day.

Cities like Omaha, Wichita, Kansas City and Des Moines are all in the zone for storms and tornadoes that could quickly turn life-threatening.

After a weekend filled with damaging tornadoes, we’re watching closely as today’s wave could bring even stronger twisters, including the potential for intense, long-track tornadoes capable of major damage.

You can track the storms here and read our full forecast here.

Read on for our live updates as the situation unfolds.

(04:19 p.m. EDT) It’s Not Just Tornadoes, Flood Threat Expected

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

The supercells that are capable of producing violent tornadoes also bring heavy downpours.

Northeastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska, the same areas that are under a tornado watch, also have been flagged by the National Weather Service as a region that could see torrential rainfall.

Eastern Kansas and western Missouri are under a level 3 of 4 threat of excessive rainfall from the Weather Prediction Center, covering 4 million people.

Rainfall rates of 2 inches per hour and totals potentially over 3 inches are not out of the question. That much rainfall in a short time could cause devastating flooding. While the area in the tweet above is the area of more immediate concern, there are actually 8 million people under flood watches from eastern Kansas to southwestern Indiana.

(03:57 p.m. EDT) Ominous Photos Out Of Michigan

One Michigan resident posted these snapshots of storms arriving this afternoon.

The area is currently under a severe thunderstorm warning.

(03:49 p.m. EDT) What To Know About Hail

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

Taking a break from all the tornado posts, here are five things to know about hail:

1. It’s made from solid ice
2. It’s formed in the updrafts of storms
3. Hail’s size is often described by comparisons to common objects (pea-sized, baseball-sized etc.)
4. Hail is most common in the Plains in spring… so, right now
5. Hailstones can cause significant damage, especially when they are larger and falling faster

For more, here’s our deep dive on everything you need to know about hail.

(03:22 p.m. EDT) Tornado Warning Issued In Kansas

A radar indicated tornado warning has been issued for a storm in central Kansas.

While there is no confirmed tornado at this time, one could form at any moment. The warning also calls for hail the size of ping pong balls.

Treat every warning like there is a tornado on the ground and take shelter immediately if you are in a tornado warned area.

(03:00 p.m. EDT) Areas That Could See EF3+ Tornadoes

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

The Storm Prediction Center has warned that EF3+ tornadoes are possible from central Kansas to southwestern Iowa today.

Cities in this area include Wichita and Topeka.

This call for EF3+ is part of a new intensity scale rolled out by the Storm Prediction Scale earlier this year.

(02:37 p.m. EDT) What’s A ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’?

A “particularly dangerous situation,” also known as a PDS, is one of the strongest alerts the National Weather Service can issue before severe weather strikes. It means forecasters are especially concerned that the storm could produce an intense, long-track tornado.

Watches like the one just issued for parts of Kansas and Nebraska are relatively rare.

They’re only used when meteorologists believe the weather could quickly become life-threatening.

In other words: That PDS tag is meant to be taken very seriously.

For more on what different types of tornado watches and warnings actually mean for people on the ground, watch our video here.

(02:15 p.m. EDT) Particularly Dangerous Tornado Watch Issued

From meteorologist Rob Shackelford:

The first tornado watch has been issued for parts of northeastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska until 8 P.M. CDT.

This watch has a particularly dangerous situation tag, which means that several strong tornadoes greater than EF2 are possible.

There are also threats of winds to 70 mph and apple-sized hail.