Norman, OK – Tornado watches now stretch across six states in the Great Plains, putting more than 20 million people under threat from severe storms through Monday evening.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, multiple tornado watches are active until 9 p.m. CDT across large sections of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa. These include Tornado Watch 292 in central and southern Oklahoma until 7 p.m., and Watches 293, 294, and 295 in effect through 9 p.m. from north Texas to eastern Nebraska.
Cities under watch include Oklahoma City, Dallas suburbs like Denton and McKinney, Kansas City, Lincoln, and Springfield. Storms are expected to intensify by late afternoon, with supercells capable of producing tornadoes, hail larger than golf balls, and damaging wind gusts exceeding 70 mph.
Drivers on I-35, I-44, and I-70 should monitor weather conditions closely. Emergency managers urge residents in mobile homes or vulnerable structures to seek safer shelter ahead of time.
Make sure weather alerts are enabled on your phone, keep a flashlight and battery backup ready, and be prepared to take cover quickly if warnings are issued.
Storms will likely remain active through the evening, with additional watches or warnings possible into the overnight hours.
