The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Update: May 22 at 7 p.m.:

A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WEST CENTRAL WARREN...
NORTHEASTERN OSAGE...EXTREME SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY...NORTHERN GASCONADE
AND NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...

AT 659 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES WEST OF HERMANN...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HERMANN...NEW HAVEN...RHINELAND...MCKITTRICK AND BERGER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

Update: May 22 at 5:30 p.m.:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN CHARITON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI...
  NORTHERN HOWARD COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...
  SOUTHERN RANDOLPH COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 513 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
  A CONFIRMED TORNADO NEAR GLASGOW. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO
  MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ARMSTRONG...HIGBEE...CLARK AND RENICK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

*****************************************************************

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN CALLAWAY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...
  MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 525 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A POSSIBLE
  TORNADO NEAR WILLIAMSBURG...OR 8 MILES WEST OF MONTGOMERY CITY.
  DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MONTGOMERY CITY...WELLSVILLE...BUELL...BELLFLOWER AND DANVILLE.

********************************************************************

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN COOPER COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...
  EAST CENTRAL PETTIS COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 527 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN
  EXCESS OF 70 MPH...AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED
  NEAR SEDALIA...AND MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SMITHTON...OTTERVILLE...PILOT GROVE...BUNCETON...CLIFTON CITY AND
  LAMINE.
 **********************************************************************

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHERN MORGAN...NORTHERN MILLER AND NORTH CENTRAL CAMDEN
COUNTIES...

AT 519 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF LAURIE...OR 15 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF VERSAILLES...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THIS STORM IS
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE AURORA SPRINGS...BAGNELL...BARNETT...
ELDON...ETTERVILLE...GRAVOIS MILLS...LAKE OZARK...LAKELAND...
LAKEVIEW...LAURIE...MARYS HOME...OLEAN...PURVIS...ROCKY MOUNT...
SUNRISE BEACH...TUSCUMBIA...VERSAILLES...VILLAGE OF FOUR SEASONS AND
VILLAGE OF FOUR SE.

******************************************************************************

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN CALLAWAY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...
  MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 516 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM
  WAS LOCATED NEAR MINEOLA...OR 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MONTGOMERY
  CITY...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MONTGOMERY CITY...WELLSVILLE...BUELL...BELLFLOWER AND MIDDLETOWN.

****************************************************************************

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN CALLAWAY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...
  COLE COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...
  SOUTH CENTRAL MONITEAU COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...
  CENTRAL OSAGE COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 516 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES
  EAST OF ELDON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  JEFFERSON CITY...HOLTS SUMMIT...HICKORY HILL...RUSSELLVILLE...ST.
  THOMAS...BRAZITO...ST. MARTINS...WARDSVILLE...TAOS...WESTPHALIA...
  LAKE MYKEE...LOHMAN...OSAGE BEND...ELSTON...SCHUBERT...
  WAINWRIGHT...OSAGE CITY...TEBBETTS...BONNOTS MILL AND LOOSE CREEK.

***********************************************************************

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN BOONE COUNTY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 511 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  BOONVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COLUMBIA...ROCHEPORT...MIDWAY...HALLSVILLE...MURRY AND HARRISBURG.

*******************************************************

Update: May 22 at 4:55 p.m.

A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN SALINE...
NORTHWESTERN HOWARD AND SOUTH CENTRAL CHARITON COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM
CDT...

AT 450 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR SLATER...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GLASGOW...SALISBURY AND GILLIAM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.


Update: May 22 at 3:45 p.m.:

A tornado warning has been issued for Saline County until 4:15 p.m.

AT 340 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO
  BETWEEN CORDER AND DOVER...OR 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF HIGGINSVILLE.
  DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
  IN ADDITION TO A TORNADO...PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL IS EXPECTED
  WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WAVERLY...MALTA BEND AND GRAND PASS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID
WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE
CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

Update: May 22 at 3:05 p.m.:

A tornado watch now includes all of the Mid-Missouri counties. Storms are starting to pop up south of Jefferson City along with an additional line of storms to the west of the KRCG viewing area.

 Update: May 22 at 1:35 p.m.:

The Tornado watch issued for parts of Mid-Missouri has expanded to include counties south of Jefferson City and areas along the I-44 corridor.

The newly included counties are Camden, Miller, Maries, Pulaski, Phelps, Benton and Morgan Counties.

Original Story:

Central Missouri is once again under the gun for severe weather. 

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for a good portion of Central Missouri, including the Jefferson City and Columbia areas. Storms are expected to fire off and move through the area during the late afternoon and evening hours. Weather threats today include very large hail, damaging winds, dangerous cloud to ground lightning, and isolated but strong tornadoes. Along with these threats, recent heavy rains have created nearly saturated grounds. This may lead to the additional threat of flash flooding. Be careful of creeks and rivers that typically flood in stormy weather. Remember to not cross these flooded areas in this type of weather situation. 

This weather system is not expected to leave the Midwest for several days, leading to the threat for more severe weather and heavy rains through Wednesday.