Central Nebraska – A tornado watch is in effect for southern and central Nebraska until 10 p.m. CDT on Monday. Thunderstorms are expected to move east-northeast along a warm front that will become draped across south-central Nebraska this afternoon and evening.
According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, the primary threats include a couple of tornadoes, scattered damaging winds with isolated significant gusts up to 75 mph, and scattered large hail events, with isolated occurrences of very large hail up to 2 inches in diameter. The most likely areas to be affected are approximately 45 miles north and south of a line from 40 miles northwest of McCook to 30 miles east-southeast of Grand Island.
The Storm Prediction Center urges residents in the affected areas to be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and to listen for later statements and possible warnings. People should have a plan in place and be ready to take immediate action if a tornado warning is issued. For those in the aviation sector, the severe thunderstorms may cause extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts up to 65 knots, with cumulonimbus clouds reaching maximum tops of 50,000 feet.
