2026 ABC 17 Stormtrack Severe Weather Special set to air March 24

COLUMBIA, Mo.

March 2026 has already seen record highs and frigid temperatures, making for an active start to the spring season. Viewers will get a closer look at what else they can expect in the months ahead and how to prepare with the annual ABC 17 Stormtrack Severe Weather Special, airing Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. on KMIZ.

In the 30-minute special, ABC 17 Stormtrack Chief Meteorologist Jessica Hafner will break down the global pattern that may influence our weather in her long-range spring forecast.

Viewers will also get a firsthand look at how a research team at Missouri S&T in Rolla is using technology, including a tornado simulator, to analyze damage from the state’s most prolific tornadoes from 2025. That year, Missouri recorded the third-highest number of tornado warnings nationwide.

While tornadoes tend to get the most attention during the severe weather season, hail consistently causes more damage. The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team will look at data on the history of severe hail in the state over the past 15 years.

Plus, tornado-prone regions in the United States are shifting eastward. We’ll look at what that means and have much more on what you can do to stay safe this spring with the ABC 17 Stormtrack Severe Weather Special. Watch it on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. on KMIZ.