Tornado Forecast: NOAA Issues Rare “High Risk” Warning for Intense, Protracted Tornadoes

Potentially severe and historic tornadoes are forecast for Monday in Oklahoma and other surrounding states, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, issued the highest possible severe weather risk warning for multiple intense, protracted tornadoes Monday afternoon and evening.

Some tornadoes could continue after dark and into the overnight hours. Nighttime tornadoes are very dangerous.

This is the first “high risk” rating for severe storms this year and the first in Oklahoma since 2019.

The Tornado Alley forecast includes the potential for severe storms from Nebraska to Texas, particularly Kansas and Oklahoma.

Storms are expected to develop and eventually, possibly quickly, form a series of supercells moving eastward, with all types of severe weather possible.

Multiple strong tornadoes with huge hail the size of softballs are possible. The destructive thunderstorms could produce wind speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.

At 3 p.m. ET, storms will appear from Nebraska to Kansas – from Kearney, Nebraska to Hays, Kansas.

Storms are likely to explode quickly once they ignite and initially come “out of nowhere,” so everyone needs to be on alert, especially at outbreak sites.

Tornado warnings will likely be issued before storms develop. People have to be prepared quickly for everything at the exhibition.

A “particularly dangerous” tornado warning was issued for portions of south-central Kansas (including Wichita), much of Oklahoma (including OKC), and far northern Texas (including Wichita Falls) until 12 p.m. ET.

Storms will begin at 6 p.m. ET and will rapidly intensify from Nebraska to central Oklahoma. Strong and protracted tornadoes, including huge hailstones up to the size of a softball, are possible at this time.

The storms will continue to move east through 8 p.m. ET and will now move into the impacted Beatrice, Nebraska area along with Wichita Kansas.

Additional storms could develop by 12 ET east of Oklahoma City, an area devastated by tornadoes in late April. Then a line of storms forms from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Joplin, Missouri, to Kansas City, Missouri, with all types of severe weather.

The line continues east overnight and eventually fades out as it reaches Paducah, Kentucky at sunrise.

New energy will lead to more severe weather on Tuesday and Wednesday.