Marginal severe storm threat Sunday night
We are watching the development of a strong storm system which will bring a chance of thunderstorms to Mid-Missouri Sunday night. The Storm Prediction Center has put areas south of HWY 50 in southwestern Missouri under a Marginal Severe Threat. This means there is a chance of isolated severe storms with damaging wind to 60 mph or 1 inch diameter hail. The tornado threat is very low as of now but something we’ll monitor as new data comes in.
A spring-like storm system will move across the area Sunday, lifting warm, moist air into Mid-Missouri, causing temperatures to rise into the lower 60s which is more like late March. Drizzle is possible Sunday morning as low level moisture increases. As we head through the day, a few light showers are possible as lift increases ahead of a cold front. The afternoon looks fairly dry before a line of rain and spotty storms moves in Sunday night.
A line of storms will develop ahead of the cold front from 7-8 PM from eastern Oklahoma northward to western Missouri, gradually shifting east through the night. At this time, it looks like this line will arrive near HWY 65 in western Missouri from 10-11 PM and to HWY 63 near midnight to 1 AM, exiting to the east by 3 AM. Embedded storms within this line will track to the northeast as the line heads east.
While there should be enough lift, moisture and wind shear for storm development, instability will be low which will limit the severe storm potential and severe storms would be isolated with the main threat strong wind gusts. However, due to strong wind shear, a tornado is not completely ruled out.
Since this system is still developing, the timing of storms and the severe risk could change in the next 24 hours. Please watch ABC17 News for the newest forecast and check back here for updates.
