(KFVS) – We are issuing First Alert Action Days through Saturday due to the threat of significant severe weather, including a couple of strong tornadoes and flooding.
The Storm Prediction Center has the Heartland outlooked at a threat level 5 and 4 out of 5 for severe storms today and tonight.
Very large hail, damaging winds and a couple of long-track tornadoes all seem possible.
The storms will impact the area earlier now, from the early afternoon hours in our western counties to the early evening hours in our eastern counties.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of southeast Missouri and western Tennessee.
The biggest threat looks to be over by 10 p.m.
A wind advisory will be in effect today for winds 20 to 30 miles per hour with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour.
After this line of storms moves through, our next big concern will be flooding tonight through Saturday.
Chief Meteorologist Grant Dade says the forecast rainfall through early Sunday morning is 10+ inches of rain for much of the area.
Precipitation models continue to show about 6 to 12 inches of rain from Thursday through Saturday.(Source: KFVS)
An active frontal boundary will wave back and forth over the region from Thursday through Saturday or Sunday.
This will bring periods of showers and thunderstorms. Strong storms will still be a threat, but the greater issue will be heavy rainfall.
If this does occur, which appears likely, significant flash flooding will occur starting late Thursday and lasting through Sunday.
All the campgrounds along area rivers will flood. Please do not be in river campgrounds this weekend. All of our Ozark rivers and streams will see significant flooding. All creeks and rivers in southern Illinois and western Kentucky, as well as northwestern Tennessee, will flood.
If you live near any of these areas or in a low-lying area that floods occasionally, please make plans now to move to higher ground if flooding starts in your area.
The NWS has issued a Flood Watch for Wednesday through Sunday.(Source: KFVS)
This is an extremely active weather pattern. Showers should finally taper off and move out on Sunday, but large river flooding will likely be ongoing for many days.
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