Kansas City, Missouri – A broad tornado watch now stretches across northern and western Missouri Tuesday evening, placing more than 30 counties under the threat of tornado-producing storms through midnight.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, Tornado Watch 36 remains in effect until 12 a.m. CDT Wednesday for a large portion of northern and western Missouri. The watch includes major population centers such as Kansas City in Jackson County along with surrounding counties including Clay, Platte, Cass and Lafayette.
Communities from St. Joseph and Kirksville south toward Sedalia and Clinton fall inside the watch area. Cities including Independence, Liberty, Raymore and Blue Springs may see rapidly developing storms capable of damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes during the late evening hours.
The greatest travel concerns may occur along Interstate 70, Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 36 where storms could quickly reduce visibility and produce sudden wind gusts. Power interruptions are also possible if stronger cells organize across the region.
Residents should keep weather alerts enabled and identify a safe shelter location such as a basement or interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. A tornado watch means atmospheric conditions support tornado development, and warnings could be issued with little notice.
The severe weather threat is expected to continue through late Tuesday night as storm clusters track east across Missouri toward the Mississippi River Valley.
