A regional severe weather outbreak is forecast this afternoon into tonight across portions of the Mid-South and Ohio Valley. More record heat builds across Texas and the Southeast. The Breakfast Brief is published Monday through Friday at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Severe weather ramps up again today, with the threat focused across parts of Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana and central and western Kentucky. The WeatherRadar shows storms firing up this afternoon and evening, lingering into the overnight hours.

All modes of severe weather are possible, including damaging winds in excess of 70 mph, large hail 2 inches or greater in diameter and tornadoes. Some strong tornadoes (EF-2 ) will be possible. Some cities at risk of these hazards include St. Louis, Louisville, Ky., Nashville and Clarksville, Tenn., Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Bloomington, Ind.

Rain and mountain snow will push into the Pacific Northwest, while the Upper Midwest is hit with heavy rain and gusty winds. Keep an eye on the WindRadar as winds are expected to gust 40-50 mph today in cities like Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Bismarck, N.D.

The heat wave continues across Texas and the Southeast. Record heat will be possible in cities like Houston, San Antonio, Shreveport, La., Atlanta, Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Fla.

When severe weather is in your forecast, you can be prepared. Follow along with these tools to stay weather-aware.