Alert for severe storms and hail in Nebraska and Great Plains: Affected areas and how long it will last

Severe weather will be likely across the Great Plains on Thursday as another low-pressure system pushes eastward. The National Weather Service advises that there is “an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms in the Central Great Plains” covering large swaths of Nebraska, portions of northern Kansas as well as sections of western Iowa and Missouri.

Meteorologists are warning that from this afternoon into the night that “a few tornadoes and isolated very large hail are probable.”

Alert for severe storms and hail in Nebraska and Great Plains: Affected areas and how long it will last

The system is likely to bring scattered severe thunderstorms on Thursday into the night. The storm systems are forecast to kick up winds from 75 to 85 mph.

“Significant severe hail and isolated severe gusts should be the primary early threat,” according to meteorologists. Going into the evening, conditions are expected to produce the potential for severe wind and brief tornadoes in the Mid-Missouri Valley vicinity.

Major urban areas that are in the enhanced risk zone include Omaha, NE; Lincoln, NE; Council Bluffs, IA; Bellevue, NE and Grand Island, NE.

Through Thursday there will be a slight risk for severe weather stretching from central Texas up to central North Dakota. Major urban areas that are in the slight risk zone include Dallas -Fort Worth, TX; Oklahoma City, OK; Kansas City, MO and Tulsa, OK.

On Friday, the system will move east into the Mississippi River Valley with NWS meteorologists advising of a slight risk area running from central Texas up to the Chicago metro area.

Severe thunderstorms could develop capable of damaging gusts and large hail possible. The NWS states that “the timing and eastward extent of severe potential is a bit uncertain into the evening and some eastward adjustments to the Slight risk area is possible in subsequent outlooks.”