4:45 PM Update
Storm cells are moving toward the WKMS listening area from Southeast Missouri. A tornado watch remains in effect until 11:00 p.m. The next round of severe weather could enter the western-most counties of our region around 7:00 p.m.
Original Report:
The National Weather Service is warning of two primary thrusts of severe weather in our region. The Storm Prediction center reports an enhanced risk of severe weather which means there’s a risk of damaging winds, significant tornadoes and flash flooding.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Rick Shanklin says the risk category of these storms are one level higher than the March 2 storms that struck Nashville, Cookeville and Benton County Tennessee and killed 25 people. Shanklin cautions this doesn’t guarantee this afternoon’s storms will be stronger, but that weather conditions merit the enhanced risks and could produce stronger storms that struck the region on March 2nd.
The NWS Reports Severe Storms are expected to develop around the noon hour. The risk of supercells capable of producing a few tornadoes large hail and damaging winds, will be greatest along and near a warm front this afternoon.
Another around of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected to develop this evening when a cold front moves southeast across the region. Damaging winds, with embedded tornadoes will be possible with these storms. Areas seeing storms both this afternoon and evening may experience locally heavy rain. There is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall.
Shanklin says this is a dynamic storm with impressive wind fields. Shanklin says to stay safe, have multiple ways to receive warnings where you live and work. Those include weather radios, automated calling services such as code red, cell phones and outdoor sirens. And, if a warning is issued, seek shelter immediately indoors in an interior room on the lowest floor of a study building
