Tornado watch issued for areas north of Kansas City metro, other parts of Midwest
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a tornado watch for parts of the Midwest, including areas north of the Kansas City metro.
The watch, which is in effect until 8 p.m., includes portions of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri stretches north into western and central Iowa, eastern Nebraska, southeastern South Dakota and south-central Minnesota.
Andrew, Atchison, Gentry, Harrison, Holt, Mercer, Nodaway, Putnam and Worth counties in Missouri and Brown, Clay, Cloud, Doniphan, Jackson, Jewell, Marshall, Mitchell, Nemaha, Ottaw, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley and Washington counties in Kansas are included in the watch.
The Storm Prediction Center said a few tornadoes are likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible. Widespread damaging winds with gusts peaking up to 90 mph is likely and isolated large hail events up with hail up to 1 inch in diameter is also possible.
Parts of extreme eastern Nebraska across western to northern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota face the greater risk of tornadoes, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
The National Weather Service in Kansas City said on Twitter that severe storms are expected Wednesday afternoon and evening across far northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas.
“Thunderstorm winds may exceed 75 mph,” the weather service said. “An isolated tornado is possible. Please ensure that you have multiple ways to receive weather information and warnings.”
The watch comes as the Kansas City area is facing howling winds with damaging gusts. Western Kansas has seen schools and roads closed as strong winds have created a “wall of dust.”
A line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to roll through the Kansas City area between 4 and 9 p.m. Stronger storms, however, are expected to be north of Kansas City, closer to the Iowa border.
Thunderstorm winds could reach in excess of 70 to 75 mph.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 2:49 PM.
