Severe Weather Outbreak Today

The image above depicts a MODERATE RISK area outlined in yellow issued by the Storm Prediction Center that indicates a significant risk of a SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK affecting the Kansas City area this afternoon and evening. The moderate risk was issued primarily because of the likelihood of supercell thunderstorms developing ahead of an advancing cold front that could produce VERY LARGE HAIL, sometimes in excess of the size of golf balls. Along with large hail, and once the storms form quasi-linear segments later this evening, a damaging wind threat will also become more prominent. A lesser, yet still apparent, threat is that of tornadoes, which are likely to be present in isolated amounts, especially during a brief period in time right after the thunderstorms form and move through a line from Emporia-Kansas City-Kirksville. Once more information is available, I'll update the blog as this has become a nowcasting situation. Stay tuned to local media outlets and NOAA weather radio for updates on today's weather event.