Severe weather threatens KC area. What to know about tornadoes, hail, winds
Overnight showers and thunderstorms are tapering off across the Kansas City metro, but forecasters say the bigger concern comes later Monday, when severe weather is likely, the National Weather Service said.
A line of thunderstorms, with heavy rainfall and strong winds, has moved through the metro. More showers and a few storms could linger before the storm activity fully moves out, according to weather service..
Because of repeated rounds of heavy rain, a flood watch remains in effect for much of the area through 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Skies will then become mostly sunny, allowing temperatures to climb to near 84 degrees, which is above the metro’s average of 76 degrees for this time of year.
Attention then turns to severe storms that are likely late Monday afternoon through Monday night and into early Tuesday, according to the weather service.
There’s still some uncertainty about whether storms will form this afternoon. If the atmosphere recovers from the morning rain, a few stronger storms could pop up; if not, the main severe round may hold off until later in the evening, the weather service said.
All hazards are possible, including large hail, damaging wind, tornadoes, and heavy rain that could lead to flooding, the weather service said.
The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, said numerous thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon and evening across the south-central Plains and mid-Missouri Valley.
The worst of the severe weather is expected west and northwest of the Kansas City metro, where supercells (large, rotating thunderstorms) capable of producing hail and strong to intense tornadoes are most likely from central Kansas and southeast Nebraska into Iowa and northwest Missouri.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of eastern and south-central Kansas, southeast Nebraska, and far northwest Missouri under a moderate risk (Level 4 of 5) of severe weather.
Kansas City, along with a large part of the region, is at an enhanced risk (Level 3 of 5), while most of the rest of Missouri is at a slight risk (Level 2 of 5).
Storms may start more isolated in the afternoon, then merge into a line across northwest Missouri into northeast Kansas in the evening as they move east and southeast Monday night.
Damaging winds will be the main threat in the line of storms, but a few brief tornadoes are possible, the weather service said. Heavy rain will also be possible.
Once the storms exit the area, cooler temperatures and less humid weather are expected Tuesday through Thursday, with afternoon temperatures in the mid- to upper 60s, according to the weather service.
The chance of rain returns Thursday afternoon and evening, but severe weather is not expected. Warmer temperatures and increased humidity return by Friday and linger into the weekend, forecasters said.
