Central U.S. braces for 'significant' tornado outbreak amid dire warnings: Live updates

With millions at risk of tornadoes tonight, a number of tornado warnings have already cropped up across the Central Plains on Monday evening, including in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Forecasters at National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center have issued dire warnings for a significant tornado outbreak in the central U.S. that could impact millions of people from Texas to the Dakotas.

At 2 p.m. Central, the center issued a warning for a “particularly dangerous situation” through 11 p.m., following up on its previous “high risk” warning for portions of Oklahoma and Kansas, which included the Oklahoma City metro area. Such warnings are rare, reserved only for the most serious severe weather days.

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“We are expecting a serious severe weather outbreak,” said meteorologist Jennifer Thompson. The outbreak – with multiple strong, long-tracked tornadoes, large hail and severe thunderstorm gusts – is forecast “over parts of the south-central Plains from this afternoon through evening,” the Storm Prediction Center said.

The center warned of “explosive thunderstorm development” and put the chances for at least two tornadoes at more than 95%.

“Intense tornadoes are probable especially as the atmosphere becomes very favorable for tornadoes late this afternoon and continuing through the evening,” the center warned. The tornado watch covers an area of Kansas and Oklahoma roughly 250 miles by 300 miles.

Severe weather outlook from the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center at 2:43 p.m. Central Time on May 6, 2024.

High winds and huge hail also are possible.

The forecast comes a week after a tornado outbreak killed four people in Oklahoma.

Tornado warnings

As of 6 p.m. Eastern Time, tornado warnings related to the potential outbreak had been issued since lunchtime Monday in South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Tornado warnings also have been issued in Tennessee.

The National Weather Service offers tips to stay safe if you are in the path of a tornado. Read our story here.

Bryan Smith, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, coordinates the “particularly dangerous situation” tornado watch at the center in Norman, Oklahoma on the afternoon of May 6, 2024 as the region braced for a severe weather outbreak.

What is a ‘high risk’?

A high risk is the highest-tier hazardous weather forecast that the Storm Prediction Center issues.

This forecast is the first “high risk” since two were issued on March 31, 2023, said Matthew Elliott, warning coordination meteorologist for the center.

“We typically average only one or two a year,” Elliott said.

A ‘significant’ outbreak

“We’re really expecting this to be a significant outbreak of severe weather,” Elliott said, “with some long track, intense tornadoes certainly possible.”

High winds over portions of Colorado and the High Plains Monday morning are also related to the strong and strengthening low-pressure system expected to spawn tornadoes and hail later in the day.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center puts the probabilities of two or more tornadoes on the evening of May 6, 2024 at greater than 95%. Here are the other probabilities issued as part of its forecast.

“It’s very similar to what’s helping create the moisture across the Southern Plains that will lead to the severe weather this afternoon and evening,” Elliott said. “That’s why we see this potential for large hail, tornadoes and damaging winds.”

Preparations underway

Ahead of the storms, McConnell Air Force Base, near Wichita, Kansas, is relocating aircraft to remove them from harm’s way, CNN reported.

A rare “high risk” area for severe weather — centered on Oklahoma and Kansas — was issued Monday May 6, 2024, by the Storm Prediction Center.

Also, schools across the danger zone were altering their schedules before the storms hit. Oklahoma City Public Schools and several metro-area school districts began canceling all after-school and evening activities, the Associated Press reported.

On this date in history

On May 6, 1975, a violent F-4 tornado struck Omaha, Nebraska, killing three and destroying 287 homes. It was the most devastating of 36 tornadoes that occurred during a two-day outbreak.

Contributing: Josh Dulaney, the Oklahoman

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Central U.S. braces for ‘significant’ tornado outbreak amid dire warnings: Live updates