The National Weather Service reports strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible across portions of extreme southeast Kansas and the Missouri Ozarks late this afternoon into the evening hours.
Large hail to the size of golf balls, damaging winds in excess of 70 mph and an isolated tornado will all be possible with the storms.
These storms will develop over eastern Oklahoma and extreme southeast Kansas between 4 and 7 p.m., eventually moving east into the Ozarks region through the evening and overnight hours.
Moisture is slowly increasing across the area ahead of the storm system. If moisture remains limited, this will reduce the severity potential. At this time the best potential for severe weather across the outlook area will be across southern Missouri, where the better moisture return should be.
This active weather will occur in response to the approach of a vigorous storm system. This feature will also cause gusty south winds in excess of 35 mph at times today.
In advance of the storm system, the strong winds will combine with relative humidities around 30 percent. This could create a potential for elevated fire danger for locations along and south of Interstate 44 through this evening.
Short-term forecast
This Afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. South wind between 11 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Periods of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 47. Southeast wind 8 to 17 mph becoming southwest. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Wind chill values as low as 42 early. West wind between 11 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
