By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com
Yes, spring is finally here.
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the Kansas City metro area until 10 p.m. tonight.
According to the forecast, large hail and gusty winds will be the features of the storm. Tornadoes are also possible as well, and a flash flood watch has been issued for the metro.
Full forecast:
SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. A WARM FRONT IS FORECAST TO LIFT NORTHWARD TOWARDS NORTHERN MISSOURI BRINGING A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL OCCUR LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE WARM FRONT. A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE REGION THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT WITH A LINE OF POTENTIALLY SEVERE STORMS FORMING ALONG THIS BOUNDARY AND SWEEPING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. AS THE STORMS EVOLVE INTO A LINEAR SYSTEM...THE THREAT OF LARGE HAIL WILL DECREASE...WITH AN INCREASING RISK OF DAMAGING WINDS. A FEW TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITHIN THIS LINE OF STORMS DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS.
