WEATHER ALERT DAY: Mid-Missouri under severe thunderstorm watch; flood advisory in Boone, Cole, Moniteau
The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather team has issued a Weather Alert Day for the threat of severe storms later today. Showers and thunderstorms are rolling through this morning but will reignite again this afternoon.
Watch live coverage when warnings are issued at this link.
LATE AFTERNOON UPDATE: Central Boone and parts of northern Cole and Moniteau counties are under a flood advisory until 7:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service says another half-inch to 1.5 inches of rain is possible in this area before storms leave to the east. The Columbia Regional Airport recorded nearly a half-inch of rain this morning before the round of heavy afternoon storms moved in.
MIDDAY UPDATE: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has now been issued for all of the viewing area until 7:00 PM.
- 70 mph wind gusts
- 1.5" hail
- 1 or 2 tornadoes
All possible still with this afternoon's storms
Afternoon Round
This is where things get interesting. The intensity of the storms in the early afternoon hours will hinge largely on how unstable we become. Our morning round will attempt to stabilize things and put a lid on the atmosphere. Our confidence has increased that we are going to recover enough to support strong to severe storms later today.
Timing
We're waiting on the frontal boundary to fire round 2. That looks to happen around 1-2 PM in our far western counties. That line will progress to HWY 63 closer to 3 PM, and pushing into our eastern counties
Threats
All modes of severe weather would be on the table IF we can reach enough instability. The biggest threat, however, appears to be damaging straight-line winds, but some large hail and a spinup tornado can't be ruled out. The flooding threat looks low enough with a fairly quick-moving line.