Plains to the Midwest - Tornado risk for Thursday afternoon, overnight

Thunderstorm activity is popping up in the Midwest on Thursday afternoon as a cold front runs into a warm air mass. Severe storms, including tornaodes, damaging gusts and large hail, are expected from north Texas to northern Minnesota, with a focus on places such as Tulsa, Okla., and Wichita and Topeka, Kan., as the cold front shifts east.

A tornado watch is already in effect for southeast Nebraska through western Iowa, however, more activity is expected through the afternoon and the overnight hours. The WeatherRadar shows afternoon commute storms for Omaha, Neb., and those from Minneapolis through Wichita, Kan., getting the activity through dinner time.

By later tonight, many may be awakened by thunder from Duluth, Minn., through Milwaukee, Wis., and southwest into Oklahoma City along the cold front. Have your alert notification volume turned up, should you receive a warning while you are asleep.

More severe weather is expected over the next several days. The southern and central Plains as well as the middle and lower Mississippi valleys are in the spotlight through early next week as a potent storm environment sets up.

Have your alerts switched on and your eyes on the WeatherRadar.