Central US on high alert Monday for dangerous tornadoes, giant hail and destructive winds
The FOX Forecast Center warns that a wide region from Kansas and Oklahoma extending into parts of Missouri and Arkansas is expected to experience severe thunderstorms. By early afternoon, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas and the Ozarks will be primed for severe storms to develop.
53 million brace for severe storms Monday with wind gusts up to 80 mph likely
The FOX Forecast Center warns that a wide region from Kansas and Oklahoma extending into parts of Missouri and Arkansas is expected to experience severe thunderstorms. By early afternoon, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas and the Ozarks will be primed for severe storms to develop.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – After several days of potent and deadly storm activity, the central U.S. will remain under a heightened risk of severe weather on Monday.
Watch: Massive wedge tornado approaches Plevna, Kansas
A video shared from Plevna, Kansas, shows a massive wedge tornado being illuminated by flashes of lightning as it spins across the landscape on Monday, May 19.
The FOX Forecast Center warns that a wide region from Kansas and Oklahoma extending into parts of Missouri and Arkansas is expected to experience severe thunderstorms. By early afternoon, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas and the Ozarks will be primed for severe storms to develop.
Significant damage was reported in western Kansas early Monday morning after powerful storms produced tornadoes that damaged numerous homes and brought down trees and power lines amid a rare Tornado Emergency.
![This photo shows damage from a tornado in Grinnell, Kansas, on Sunday, May 18, 2025.]()
Image 1 of 13This photo shows damage from a tornado in Grinnell, Kansas, on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (@AndrewR3132/X)
![This photo shows damage from a tornado in Grinnell, Kansas, on Sunday, May 18, 2025.]()
Image 2 of 13This photo shows damage from a tornado in Grinnell, Kansas, on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (@AndrewR3132/X)
![This photo shows damage from a tornado in Grinnell, Kansas, on Sunday, May 18, 2025.]()
Image 3 of 13This photo shows damage from a tornado in Grinnell, Kansas, on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (@AndrewR3132/X)
![A large tornado was spotted by residents in Watkins, Colorado on Sunday.]()
Image 4 of 13A large tornado was spotted by residents in Watkins, Colorado on Sunday. (@Horsefur1 / X)
![LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 18: Debris floats in a pool near a severely damaged house on May 18, 2025 in the community of Sunshine Hills outside of London, Kentucky. A tornado struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills just after midnight on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images)]()
Image 5 of 13LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 18: Debris floats in a pool near a severely damaged house on May 18, 2025 in the community of Sunshine Hills outside of London, Kentucky. A tornado struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills just after midnight on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
![LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 18: Sarah, a volunteer from Knoxville, Tennessee, puts an American flag up on May 18, 2025 in the community of Sunshine Hills outside of London, Kentucky. A tornado struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills just after midnight on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images)]()
Image 6 of 13LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 18: Sarah, a volunteer from Knoxville, Tennessee, puts an American flag up on May 18, 2025 in the community of Sunshine Hills outside of London, Kentucky. A tornado struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills just after midnight on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
![LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 17: Mark Sexton kisses his daughters dog after it was pulled out of the debris of his parent's house following the tornado that struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. A tornado struck communities in Somerset and London, Kentucky, leaving over 10 dead and more injured. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images)]()
Image 7 of 13Mark Sexton kisses his daughters dog after it was pulled out of the debris of his parent's house following the tornado that struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
![LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 17: Payson Sexton, 13, is reunited with her dog after it was trapped in her grandparent's house following the tornado that struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. A tornado struck communities in Somerset and London, Kentucky, leaving over 10 dead and more injured. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images)]()
Image 8 of 13LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 17: Payson Sexton, 13, is reunited with her dog after it was trapped in her grandparent's house following the tornado that struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
![LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 17: Members from a local church pray with Tony and Joe McFall, who lost their father and step-mother during the tornado in the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. A tornado struck communities in Somerset and London, Kentucky, leaving over 10 dead and more injured. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images)]()
Image 9 of 13Members from a local church pray with Tony and Joe McFall, who lost their father and step-mother during the tornado in the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
![People clear debris after a tornado hit in London, Kentucky on May 17, 2025. Severe storms that swept through the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia left more than 25 people dead, laying waste to local communities and cutting off electricity to nearly 200,000, authorities said on May 17. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on X at least 18 people had died in the storms Friday night, while local officials in Missouri said another seven were dead there. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 10 of 13People clear debris after a tornado hit in London, Kentucky on May 17, 2025. (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
![TOPSHOT - A woman inspects damage from a tornado in London, Kentucky, on May 17, 2025. More than 20 people have died after severe storms swept through the southern US states of Missouri and Kentucky, officials and local media reports said May 17, 2025. Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said on X that at least 14 people had died in Friday night's storms. At least seven people were killed in Missouri, the Washington Post reported. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 11 of 13A woman inspects damage from a tornado in London, Kentucky, on May 17, 2025. (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
![Tornado-damaged Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri.]()
Image 12 of 13Tornado-damaged Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. (Katie Byrne/FOX Weather)
![Tornado damage in London, Kentucky]()
Image 13 of 13Tornado damage in London, Kentucky as seen on May 17, 2025. (London Mayor Randall Weddle)
A concerning Level 4 out of 5 severe weather threat includes major cities like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Broken Arrow in Oklahoma, as well as Springfield, Missouri.
"The thunderstorm development that we're expecting later today could produce some very large tornadoes," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said.
(FOX Weather)
Some of the tornadoes could be intense (EF-3 or stronger), with very large hail and severe winds. Multiple lines of severe storms will push eastward into Missouri and Arkansas, carrying the threat of damaging winds and embedded tornadoes.
Don’t miss FOX Weather’s extended live programming, which will track this multiday severe weather outbreak. Later in the afternoon, FOX Weather Meteorologist Haley Meier will be tracking the storms live from inside the FOX Weather Beast.
Intense severe storms likely Tuesday from Ohio Valley to Tennessee Valley
Severe thunderstorms will rumble into Tuesday across parts of the Ohio Valley and the mid-Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, with the potential for more damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes. Thunderstorms may already be ongoing Tuesday morning, especially across Illinois, Indiana and possibly Kentucky.
"You have to think about these outlooks sometimes as a continuing story," Merwin said. "What develops later today is going to be dragging into the overnight into tomorrow."
As temperatures and humidity climb throughout the day on Tuesday, the atmosphere will become unstable. This can set the stage for strong to severe storms in multiple areas.
KENTUCKY TORNADOES: NEARLY 2 DOZEN DEAD AS SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK TEARS ACROSS OHIO VALLEY
(FOX Weather)
A Level 3 out of 5 threat for severe storms includes major Tennessee cities like Memphis, Nashville, Clarksville and Murfreesboro, as well as Huntsville, Alabama.
Farther south, ingredients will come together to provide an environment favorable for supercells. Initial supercells will pose a risk of all severe storm threats, including the potential for strong tornadoes. With the atmosphere not being disturbed, an organized line of storms will develop and push eastward by Tuesday evening.
By Wednesday, the cold front will be along the mid-Atlantic and Carolina coastlines. With any daytime heating, there is a chance of severe storms from Virginia to southeastern Georgia, especially in the afternoon, the FOX Forecast Center said.