WEATHER UPDATES: National Weather Service reports tornado in Cooper County
Watch updates from the weather team in the player below.
The National Weather Service's Kansas City office said Sunday that a tornado was observed in Cooper County.
The weather service warned people near Bunceton about the tornado at about 5:15 p.m. to take shelter. The tornado warning expired at 5:30 p.m.
The storm that entered Cooper County spawned a tornado in Pettis County before moving east into Cooper County.
It wasn't immediately clear if any damage or injuries were reported. The same storm system prompted a severe thunderstorm warning for Boone County just after the tornado warning expired.
A tornado warning was also issued for Macon County but quickly expired.
Tornado watch issued for Mid-Missouri
A tornado watch has been issued for all of mid-Missouri until 10 p.m. Sunday.
Tornadoes occur when warm and cold fronts mix in just the right way during a storm to create spiraling. A tornado watch means it is possible for a tornado to form. If a tornado warning is issued, it means tornados are forming and imminent.
Storms are likely to form in Mid-Missouri from now until about 8 p.m., according to the ABC 17 News Stormtrack weather team. Hail, high winds, flooding and tornadoes are possible.
Click for Stormtrack Doppler radar
Gale Blomenkamp with Boone County Fire Protection District said when a tornado watch is issued, it's time for people to put their tornado plans into action.
"Conditions are favorable as you know, we want our people to understand that to be on the lookout," Blomenkamp said. "Be aware, have your plan, and maybe review it with your family and then when that warning does occur, whether it's radar indicated or something visual in the sky, or on the ground that they can then do that plan or follow that plan and get people to a safe location."
Blomenkamp suggested contacting loved ones to make sure they're aware of what's happening, having a plan for where to shelter in case a tornado forms and making sure people are home in case they need to take shelter.
"People should dust off that plan, make sure they're visiting with their family, communicating with them and understanding that if that warning occurs if they should seek out shelter, either underground or in an interior room of their home," Blomenkamp said.
First responders prepare for these types of emergencies and monitor weather reports from local and national services to have the most accurate information in the case of natural disasters.
"Anytime we have these pop-up storms our crews are ready to go for that," Blomenkamp said. "We have the equipment we have the training and the knowledge to do that. It just depends on what it is and hopefully it's nothing too major that's for sure."
