Six States Brace for 'Strong' Tornadoes After 2 Deaths in Oklahoma

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center is warning of the possibility of tornadoes and "very large hail" in parts of six states.

"Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected from mid-afternoon through tonight across parts of the southern/central Plains to the Ozarks and Midwest," the Storm Prediction Center wrote on March 6.

"The greatest potential for a few strong tornadoes and very large hail should exist across eastern portions of Oklahoma/Kansas/Nebraska into western Arkansas/Missouri and southern Iowa."

On March 5, a tornado hit Oklahoma, leaving a trail of damage. The twister "destroyed buildings, heavily damaged roofs and sheet metal scattered in fields throughout areas," reported KOCO-TV. A woman and her teenage daughter were found dead in their car in a likely tornado-related incident, People reported.

"Severe weather struck Major County last night and tragically claimed the lives of a mother and daughter. I am praying for the family as they grieve this tragic loss, as well as all those impacted by the storms," Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt wrote on Facebook. "More weather risks are expected across Oklahoma this weekend. Please stay weather aware and follow guidance from local officials to keep your family safe."

Added the Center: "The tornado threat would also increase this evening with any persistent supercells as low-level shear gradually strengthens. Additional and more probable robust thunderstorm development remains apparent later this evening/tonight as the cold front accelerates south-southeastward. Both large hail and damaging winds may occur with this overnight activity through the end of the period."

The National Weather Service Described a 'Corridor of More Favorable Tornado Potential'

According to the Center, a "corridor of more favorable tornado potential is possible this evening (March 6) near the interface of the surface low and warm front across far southeastern Nebraska/northeast Kansas/northwest Missouri."

There is the potential for "warm sector cells" that "may develop ahead of the cold front within a region of enhanced low-level shear (given the placement of the warm front and forecast increase in south-southwesterly low-level jet)," the Center added.

"There are some complicating factors, such as ongoing cloud cover and convection in the warm air advection regime this morning. Some sheltered heating is ongoing with breaks in the cloud cover, with MLCAPE around 1000 J/kg nosing in from the west," the update says.

"The 18z soundings from Lamont, OK and Topeka, KS show this trend in instability as well as enlarged/curved hodographs and strong 50 kt flow aloft. Forecast soundings depict further enlargement of low-level hodographs this evening, amid steep lapse rates and dew points in the low to mid 60s, and STP values around 2," the Center added, noting, "Given the favorable parameter space, tornado probabilities were increased with this outlook."

The National Weather Service also predicted a cold front "across east-central Nebraska and western Kansas, with upper 50s to low 60s F surface dewpoints common by mid afternoon."

"More instability may exist farther south into Kansas where greater low-level moisture will be in place, although such details are complicated by existing convection/cloud cover across eastern Kansas into northwest Missouri at mid-morning," the center wrote.

"Current expectations are for scattered robust thunderstorms to develop around mid afternoon (20-22Z) across southeast Nebraska/northern Kansas and vicinity, in close proximity to the surface low and ejecting shortwave trough."

The Center also predicted the possibility of "at least isolated severe/damaging winds" across Wisconsin, Illinois and lower Michigan.

"Thunderstorms have increased and locally intensified this morning across north-central Oklahoma into southeast Kansas, complicating the later-day scenario somewhat with poorly resolved short-term/convective details in guidance," the prediction adds.

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