Tornado Watches Issued As Severe Storms, Including Possible Tornadoes, Target Plains, Midwest, South on Monday (FORECAST)

May 9,2016
Severe thunderstorms will impact parts of the Plains, Midwest and South to start the new workweek. The storms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes. Locally heavy rain could also cause some flash flooding.
A slow-moving storm system pushing across the Plains is the instigator for the severe storms that we'll see on Monday.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued the following severe weather watches:

• A tornado watch is valid until 2 a.m. CDT for parts of Arkansas, northwestern Louisiana, far southeastern Oklahoma and far southeastern Missouri. The watch area includes Little Rock and Shreveport.
• A severe thunderstorm watch is valid until 2 a.m. CDT for parts of southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois and far western Kentucky. The watch area includes Paducah, Kentucky.
• A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 12 a.m. CDT for portions of eastern Nebraska, western Iowa and northwestern Missouri. The watch area includes Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska.
• A severe thunderstorm watch is valid until 11 p.m. CDT for parts of eastern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. The watch area includes Topeka, Wichita and Tulsa.

There have been numerous reports of tornadoes on Monday including a large tornado that was observed Monday afternoon near Katie, Oklahoma with reports of one death and damage west of Interstate 35, with a house destroyed. A tornado was also spotted near Norman, Oklahoma and Davis, Oklahoma Monday evening. Tree damage from a reported tornado was observed near Boswell, Oklahoma Monday evening and
Another damaging tornado was reported in southeastern Lincoln, Nebraska and a brief tornado was spotted near Odessa, Nebraska late in the afternoon. Tornadoes were also reported northeast of Nehawka, Nebraska, near Fairfield, Nebraska Monday evening and near Guthrie Center, Iowa Monday night.
Hail up to 4.25 inches in diameter was reported in Lincoln, Nebraska Monday evening. Farther south, grapefruit size hail, 4 inches in diameter, was observed near Wapanucka, Oklahoma Monday evening. A wind gust of 88 mph was measured near Sulphur, Oklahoma Monday evening. Flash flooding was reported in Paris, Texas with water up to the windows of a car.
(LATEST NEWS: Tornadoes Reported in Plains on Monday)
This same storm system brought severe weather to Plains states over Mother's Day weekend. For the latest on severe weather reports and impacts, see our full article at the link below.

Current Radar with Watches and Warnings

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
Below is our latest thinking on the forecast into early this week.

Severe Weather Forecast

Monday 

• Forecast: Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected to develop from southeastern Nebraska, southwest Iowa, eastern Kansas and Missouri into eastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas, Arkansas and northwestern Louisiana.
• Threats: Large hail, damaging winds and some tornadoes are possible. The greatest chance of tornadoes may be in northeast Texas, eastern Oklahoma, western/central Arkansas and northwest Louisiana, though the threat exists in parts of other states as well. There is a chance of strong tornadoes in eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas, meaning EF2 or higher damage ratings.
• Cities: Dallas | Kansas City | Little Rock | Shreveport | Tulsa

Monday Night's Forecast

Tuesday

• Forecast: The weather system will weaken as it pushes to the East, however there will still be numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some of those storms could turn severe, mainly from the Ozarks into the mid-Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley. A separate area of severe storms may develop in south Texas.
• Threats: Locally damaging wind gusts and large hail are the main impacts, though the chance of a tornado cannot be rule out.
• Cities: Memphis | Paducah, Kentucky | St. Louis

Tuesday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Wednesday

• Forecast: A new weather system will pivot through the Midwest and may trigger more severe storms from parts of Oklahoma and north Texas into the mid-Mississippi Valley.
• Threats: Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the main concerns.

Wednesday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Storm Reports From This Weekend

Sunday afternoon and evening tornadoes were reported in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma, however there was no major damage. Hail as large as baseballs was reported in Hawley, Texas.
(MORE: Severe Weather Impacts the Plains)
On Saturday evening, an EF2 rated tornado did damage and injured five people in northeast Colorado near the town of Wray. Another EF2 rated tornado touched down in Morgan County, Colorado, damaging motor homes and causing some minor injuries.

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MORE: Strange Tornado Debris