Storm threat not over: Tornado spin-ups, damaging winds still target KC region
Lingering showers and thunderstorms have taken the edge off the severe weather threat, but not ended it, according to the latest update from the National Weather Service.
Forecasters still expect strong to severe storms Friday evening and overnight as a cold front sweeps across the region, with damaging straight-line winds the main concern and a brief, embedded tornado possible.
Northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri face the greatest early risk, with a few storms possibly developing after 4 p.m. ahead of the cold front.
The weather service has issued a tornado watch for parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. This includes areas around and north of St. Joseph.
A couple of strong tornadoes are possible, along with scattered hail up to 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts up to 70 mph, the weather service said.
When the cold front moves into that area after 7 p.m., there will be renewed chances for strong to severe storms, according to the weather service. The primary threats will shift toward straight-line winds, with a brief tornado possible.
In the Kansas City area, the severe weather window has shifted later, to roughly 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, as the cold front approaches. Straight-line winds are the main threat, with a potential for a brief tornado along the front, the weather service said.
Meanwhile, there are indications that instability may rebuild this evening in areas south and southeast of the metro, according to the weather service. This could lead to strong and severe thunderstorms moving through the area around 6 or 7 p.m.
If the storms hold together, large hail, damaging winds and a tornado will be possible, the weather service said. Once the cold front passes this area after midnight, the threat of strong to severe weather should ease.
The severe weather threat for central Missouri will be primarily focused on the line of storms that are expected to push through between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary concern, along with a limited hail threat. The weather service said it could not rule out a brief tornado spin-up along the line as it moves east.
Check out the weather service’s website for the latest graphical information.
