The SPC is forecasting ...Severe thunderstorms expected over parts of the Portions of the central and southern Plains this afternoon and tonight....   Please read the latest public statement about this event.  View What is a Watch? clip.

   SPC AC 022016

   Day 1 Convective Outlook  
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   0316 PM CDT Wed May 02 2018

   Valid 022000Z - 031200Z

   ...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHWEST
   OKLAHOMA NORTHEAST THROUGH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST KANSAS AND
   NORTHWEST MISSOURI...

   ...SUMMARY...
   Severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of the southern and
   central Plains into the middle Mississippi Valley this afternoon
   into tonight. Swaths of severe damaging winds, large to very large
   hail, and several tornadoes are forecast, especially from
   western/central Oklahoma across southern to eastern KS and northern
   to central MO.

   ...Discussion...
   Only very minor adjustments have been made to the prior outlook. 
   Please reference MCD #315 for short-term details on a significant
   (60-80 mph) wind gust threat evolving across central KS and very
   likely moving downstream into northeast KS and western portions of
   MO later this afternoon/evening.  

   Have included a larger portion of central OK in the 30-percent wind
   probabilities to account for severe gust potential with forecast
   storms becoming quasi-linear later this evening---largely based on
   short-term model guidance in concert with a favorable mesoscale
   environment.

   ..Smith.. 05/02/2018

   .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1130 AM CDT Wed May 02 2018/

   ...Synopsis...
   A complex overall forecast with significant severe potential for all
   hazards evident across a large swath of the central/southern Great
   Plains this afternoon and evening. As such, have expanded Enhanced
   and Moderate risks with this update.

   ...KS/MO...
   The surface front is stalling from southwest KS to southern IA. A
   lead mid-upper speed max will eject northeast from NM/far west TX to
   central KS by this evening.  This speed max will interact with the
   front and warm sector starting by early afternoon in southwest KS,
   where convective initiation is expected. Surface dewpoints in the
   mid to upper 60s, beneath mid-level lapse rates in excess of 8 C/km,
   will combine with daytime heating to support MLCAPE of 2500-3500
   J/kg along and south of the stalled front. Effective bulk shear
   around 50 kt will be sufficient for supercells, though low-level
   shear/hodograph curvature will not be particularly large for most of
   the afternoon. The expectation is for initial supercells with very
   large hail to grow upscale into clusters and potentially bowing
   segments through the afternoon and evening while surging northeast
   along the front, with an increasing threat for widespread damaging
   winds by late afternoon, persisting into the evening across MO. The
   tornado threat is uncertain given the expected messy convective
   modes and relatively weak low-level shear through most of the
   afternoon. However, towards 00Z, increasing low-level shear in
   conjunction with the strongly unstable air mass may support
   semi-discrete tornadic supercells just ahead of/southeast of the
   emerging clusters/bows, where a couple strong tornadoes are
   possible.

   ...Western/central OK...
   A strongly unstable warm sector is expected into western OK this
   afternoon, with upper 60s surface dew points beneath very steep
   mid-level lapse rates. The dryline will mix east of the thicker high
   cloud band in west TX as surface temperatures warm into the mid 90s.
   Convergence along the dryline should strengthen beneath the
   mid-level speed max ejecting towards KS. This scenario should
   support discrete supercell development at least as far south as the
   Red River near the southwest OK/northwest TX border. MLCAPE of
   3000-4000 J/kg and 50-60 kt effective shear will support at least
   very large hail. Forecast wind profiles will have some weakness near
   700 mb this afternoon, though low-level shear will increase and
   become more favorable for tornadic supercells in the evening. The
   main uncertainty is whether discrete storm mode will persist into
   this time frame with most CAMs suggesting it will not. While this
   volatile setup has some potential to yield long-track supercells
   with a few strong tornadoes, will only expand but not upgrade
   probabilities with this outlook.

   ...West to central and north TX...
   Guidance appears to be trending faster with convection forming near
   the Permian Basin this evening along the retreating portion of the
   dryline. Very large hail will be the main initial threat with these
   storms given a highly favorable CAPE/shear combination. Upscale
   growth into clusters with both severe wind gusts and large hail will
   be possible tonight, with this activity eventually weakening
   overnight.

   ...Southern IA to northern/central IL...
   Clusters of strong to severe storms will probably develop this
   afternoon along the stalling to slow-moving cold front. While the
   overall intensity/coverage is not anticipated to be as large as
   farther southwest, all hazards appear possible with clusters/bows
   and a few embedded supercells. The late evening/overnight portion of
   the MO MCS may also affect parts of central IL with a wind threat as
   well.

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