Weather Alert Day: Friday night damaging wind and hail threat

SETUP:

Heat is building Friday afternoon as excess moisture flows into the region. This combination is destabilizing the atmosphere as a cold front approaches from the northwest, which could lead to strong storm development this evening.

Enough energy and shear is present in the atmosphere to support organized strong to severe storms across the region Friday night.

TIMING:

Storms that have developed this early afternoon to our west may arrive just before 6 p.m. with more activity spreading across the area overnight. Still, it's important to know that timing and placement has been and continues to be something of moderate confidence at best with this system. We'll likely have to also watch for more development into the evening. Storms should mostly clear by sunrise Saturday, but will linger well into the overnight hours for many.

IMPACTS:

Damaging winds and large hail will be our primary threats.

Tornadoes are possible from strong updrafts in storms across northwestern Missouri, but this is a low threat overall.