High winds, hail and possibly tornadoes were heading toward the central and southern Plains on Saturday, meteorologists have warned.
“Today is going to be an active day,” said Michael Palmer, the Weather Channel’s lead forecaster.
The warning followed a relatively quiet night for most of the region, he said.
Central Nebraska, central Kansas and west-central Oklahoma were most likely to see tornadoes, including a few strong ones, Palmer said.
“Folks in that area certainly have to be on high alert,” he said, adding that residents should prepare for large hail and damaging winds.
A tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m. CT for most of western Kansas and a small part of Nebraska, and until 8 p.m. CT for most of the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center said.
Repeated heavy rain in the Plains could also result in flooding throughout the weekend. Nickel-sized hail was also possible.
In contrast, the Eastern Seaboard looked set for a balmy if not outright steamy weekend, with temperatures hitting highs in the 80s and even the low 90s in some southern states.
The summer-like weather would be interrupted for some, with isolated thunderstorms likely soaking some of the warmer areas in the afternoon and evening, Palmer added.
IN-DEPTH
- 'Torn Apart': Killer Storms Weak Havoc Across Heartland
- Tornado Threat Moves North: Which Places Are At Risk