Kansas City, MO – Severe thunderstorms are forecasted to develop on Friday, impacting the central Plains and the Mid-Missouri Valley with the potential for large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, an upper trough over the northern Rockies will intensify as it moves towards the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. This weather pattern will bring a zone of enhanced mid-level flow across the northern and central High Plains, reaching the Great Lakes region by Saturday morning. Key areas at risk include northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri, southern Iowa, and eastern Nebraska.
In the early morning, widespread convection is expected across parts of the upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, leading to extensive cloud cover and delayed diurnal heating across northern Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. However, the rich low-level moisture ahead of the advancing cold front may still support storm development.
By late afternoon, severe storms, including supercells, are likely to form near a secondary surface low in central Kansas. The greatest threat for tornadoes exists in northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri, and southern Iowa. As the evening progresses, these storms may evolve into clusters or a small MCS, moving east/southeast, potentially impacting central and eastern Missouri and western Illinois.
Residents in the affected regions are advised to stay alert and monitor weather updates throughout the day.
