The Omaha metro remains on the lookout for severe weather later Tuesday afternoon and evening.
UPDATE: 1:45 p.m. Things are starting to heat up as far as the severe weather threat.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma says a tornado watch will likely be issued Tuesday afternoon for an area stretching from northern Oklahoma to southeast Nebraska in the next couple of hours. Forecasters expect thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes to begin developing in central and eastern Kansas by mid-afternoon.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma still has the Omaha area in the slight risk area for severe storms, with the Lincoln area in the enhanced risk area, and a moderate risk area to the south and west of the Interstate 80 corridor in Nebraska. The storms could bring damaging winds, hail up to the size of baseballs, and possibly tornadoes. The storms are expected to arrive in the Omaha metro late afternoon and continue into the evening. Showers and thunderstorms may continue into the overnight hours and into Wednesday.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is already in effect in western and central Missouri. Storms this morning dropped large hail in parts of Kansas. Residents in Oklahoma are already bracing for the severe weather. One car dealer moved all of his vehicles off the lot and inside the shop to protect them from potential hail damage. A handful of schools preemptively canceled classes Tuesday due to the ominous forecast. The military moved planes from McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita to prevent them from being damaged by storms. Those planes were moved to bases in Washington and North Dakota.
