Forecasters have issued a rare, high-level risk warning for tornadoes this afternoon and evening across central Oklahoma, including parts of Oklahoma City and Kansas. According to the Storm Prediction Center, several strong, long-lasting tornadoes are expected, as well as very large and destructive hail.
“The biggest areas of concern are definitely parts of Oklahoma and south-central Kansas,” Kelly Butler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Wichita office, said Sunday.
The Hurricane Prediction Center, part of the weather service, predicted its highest risk level for the first time since March 31, 2023. That day, 131 tornadoes struck 11 states from the Midwest to the South.
The last high risk level for Oklahoma was May 20, 2019, when 35 tornadoes struck five states, primarily across the Plains.
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According to Ms. Butler, “Strong to potentially long-lasting tornadoes are possible, including large to giant hail, baseball and softball sized.”
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Storms should start moving across Kansas in the morning to afternoon.
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Later in the day, storms will begin over western Oklahoma and move eastward during the evening and night.
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There is some chance of tornadoes in Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas, although less than in the high-risk area. Forecasters in Oklahoma City warned that either storm could produce dangerous tornadoes.
As conditions developed across the Plains, forecasters raised the risk level Monday morning, increasing their confidence that several significant tornadoes would occur along potentially long paths.
“Anyone in affected areas should have a safety plan,” Ms Butler said.
weather service Described environment in southern Kansas and Oklahoma As “similar to some previous high-end, and even historic, severe weather and tornado events.”
There may also be a threat of potential flooding as heavy rainfall increases as it moves over the Rockies into parts of eastern Kansas and Nebraska, as well as western Iowa and Missouri. According to the weather forecasting centre.
The Weather Prediction Center is warning of a slight chance of significant rainfall across parts of the Central Plains and Central Mississippi Valley from Monday through Tuesday morning. Heavy rains can cause flash flooding in urban areas, roads, small rivers and low-lying areas.
The threat of severe weather comes a week after more than two dozen tornadoes were reported and at least five people, including an infant, were killed in Oklahoma and Iowa, officials said.
The current threat will not end on Monday. More storms are forecast from Texas to Ohio over the next few days, primarily Wednesday.
