Tornado Watches issued in 6 states as dangerous severe storms lurk Monday afternoon

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – After several days of potent and deadly storm activity, the central U.S. remains under a heightened risk of severe weather Monday.

The FOX Forecast Center warned 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.

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Tornado Watches have been issued for parts of six states heading into Monday afternoon. 

A Tornado Watch has been issued until 7 p.m. CT for parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Another Tornado Watch is in place for parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri until 9 p.m. CT. These areas include major cities, including Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Omaha.

A concerning Level 4 out of 5 severe weather threat includes major cities such as 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.

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Severe storms could produce tornadoes, some of which could be intense (EF-3 or stronger), very large hail and severe winds. Multiple lines of storms will push eastward into Missouri and Arkansas, carrying with them the threat of damaging winds and embedded tornadoes. 

FOX Weather’s extended live programming will track this multiday severe weather outbreak. Later Monday afternoon, FOX Weather Meteorologist Haley Meier will be tracking the storms 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.

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A Level 3 out of 5 threat for severe storms includes major Tennessee cities such as 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.