The National Weather Service says significant and dangerous severe weather is expected Saturday night in areas along and west of Highway 65, with the greatest potential focused along and west of Interstate 49 in the western Ozarks.
Forecasters say tornadoes, potentially EF2+, hail to the size of baseballs, and wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour are all possible.
In addition, significant and dangerous flooding is expected in areas along and west of 65 as additional heavy rain impacts the area Saturday evening into Sunday morning. A Flood Watch is in effect for much of the Ozarks from 7pm Saturday to 1pm Sunday.
Get the latest road closings due to high water from around the Ozarks and across the state here with the MoDOT Traveler Information Map.
The city of Joplin and areas of southeastern Kansas and northeast Oklahoma are under a level 4 out ot 5 “moderate risk” for severe weather, where the potential exists for very large hail up to the size of baseballs, damaging winds of 70 miles per hour, strong tornadoes and flash flooding.
Areas west of Springfield from Nevada to Stockton, down to Monett, and points west of those locations, are under a level 3 “enhanced risk” of severe weather.
The Springfield Metro area south to Branson and north to Lebanon are under a level 2 “slight risk,” with the far eastern Ozarks under a level 1 “marginal risk” for severe storms.
Forecasters say there may be an earlier round of storms form Saturday afternoon east of Highway 65, but it remains unclear if they even develop. If they do develop, then they could be severe.
After 8 pm Saturday, the main severe threat ramps up, mainly along and west of I-49. Storms that form in eastern Oklahoma will quickly move northeast into our listening area along the Missouri/Kansas border by 8-10 pm. Forecasters say these will quickly become a southwest to northeast-oriented band of supercells with bow structures, bringing the threat of all significant hazards.
The weather service says these supercells will be training, so after one supercell moves through the area, there is still the potential for another, with the same hazards, to move over the same location. Keep this in mind when making your safety plans.
Another line of storms will develop across Kansas and Oklahoma, then slowly progress eastward through the Ozarks. This would bring the severe threat to the Springfield area by early morning, between 1 and 4am Sunday.
All hazards will be possible with this line of storms, including tornadoes and wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour. Hail will still be possible, but less likely.
The storms should be weakening and pushing out of our area by 3am.
Additional rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches will be possible from Saturday night through Sunday, and this will likely cause significant flash flooding and river flooding, especially over areas that have seen heavy rain lately.
Nighttime flooding is especially dangerous. Turn around, don’t drown!
The National Weather Service says if enough heating develops on Sunday, then additional thunderstorms will redevelop Sunday afternoon and evening, and some may be severe.
Confidence is low with this severe threat on Sunday, and all of the Ozarks is under a level 2 “slight risk” for severe weather.
Get the latest on Saturday night’s severe weather outbreak, threat levels and graphics from the National Weather Service here.
Stay tuned to 93-3 and A-M 560 KWTO for forecast changes, along with all the watches and warnings. We’ll have live, in studio updates and damage reports as the storms move through.
