Kansas City, Missouri – Severe thunderstorms developing along a fast-moving cold front Tuesday evening could produce tornadoes, baseball-size hail and damaging winds across a large portion of Missouri and eastern Kansas through midnight.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, Tornado Watch 36 is in effect until 12 a.m. CDT Wednesday for parts of central and northern Missouri, southeast Kansas, southeast Iowa and western Illinois. Forecasters warn that a few tornadoes are likely with the potential for a couple intense tornadoes as storms strengthen along the front moving east.
Large hail may reach 3 inches in diameter, and scattered wind gusts could top 70 mph, posing risks to vehicles, roofs and power lines. Cities across the Kansas City metro including Kansas City, Independence and Liberty are inside the watch area, along with communities stretching northeast toward Kirksville and south toward Sedalia.
Major travel corridors such as Interstate 70, Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 36 could see rapidly changing conditions if storms intensify, including sudden downpours and strong wind gusts.
Residents should monitor weather alerts closely and be prepared to move to a basement or interior room on the lowest floor if warnings are issued. A tornado watch means atmospheric conditions support tornado formation, and warnings may be issued quickly if rotating storms develop.
The severe weather threat is expected to continue through late Tuesday night as storms track east across Missouri and toward the Mississippi River Valley. Additional watches or warnings could follow if storm activity intensifies.
