Following Hurricane Milton’s path, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued warnings for parts of Central and Southern U.S. about another potential storm.
The NWS-Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued tornado watches and severe weather warnings for parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, and Illinois, on October 31, 2024.
A mesocyclone and green glow from large hail appear as a tornadic supercell arrives in Hennessey, Oklahoma, on May 7, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
The SPC warns that conditions are favorable for tornadoes and other severe weather, and residents in these areas should stay alert as storms move through the region.
Northeastern Oklahoma has the highest tornado risk, with a 10 percent or greater chance of strong tornadoes reaching Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale intensities from EF2 to EF5. Major cities in this high-risk area include Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Stillwater, Bartlesville, and Owasso. The SPC has marked this area in yellow, signaling an urgent need for residents to prepare for severe weather.
Meanwhile, a five percent risk area marked in brown includes cities like Kansas City, Missouri, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where severe storms could also develop.
Farther out, a two percent risk zone, shown in green, extends to Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington in Texas, St. Louis in Missouri, and parts of Illinois. Although the risk is lower here, residents are still advised to remain cautious and prepared.
The SPC uses a color-coded system to show different levels of severe weather risk, making it easier to know when to prepare and take action.
Light green, indicating general thunderstorms, shows a low risk where non-severe thunderstorms are likely, with a 10 percent or greater chance of storms during the forecast period.
7:57pm CDT #SPC Day1 Outlook Enhanced Risk: from central and northeast Oklahoma into western Missouri https://t.co/TgJgC6cQZw pic.twitter.com/h0ph6YJs2e
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) October 31, 2024
Meanwhile, dark green, representing a marginal risk, indicates a minimal chance of severe storms that are typically limited in intensity, coverage, or duration.
Yellow, indicating a slight risk, highlights areas with a moderate chance of organized severe storms, though these events are generally less widespread.
1:06am CDT #SPC_MD 2177 , #mowx, https://t.co/n89ZIRRPO4 pic.twitter.com/jQtKUx8pWi
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) October 31, 2024
Next is orange, representing an enhanced risk, marking regions with a higher likelihood of severe storms with increased intensity compared to slight risk areas.
Red, indicating a moderate risk, designates areas where widespread severe weather is expected, including several tornadoes or intense thunderstorms.
11:09pm CDT #SPC_MD 2176 , #mowx, https://t.co/Afg4lJSS4M pic.twitter.com/J7V0GE86Hy
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) October 31, 2024
Lastly, magenta, representing a high risk, is reserved for the most severe conditions, signaling a severe weather outbreak with intense, long-tracked tornadoes or powerful storm complexes that could cause extensive damage.
Before issuing their latest weather update, the SPC placed northeastern Oklahoma under a Tornado Watch on the evening of October 30, effective until midnight Central Daylight Time (CDT). The primary threats include strong tornadoes, wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour, and hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter.
According to the SPC, a line of storms in north-central Oklahoma is expected to strengthen and move east, bringing the highest tornado risk to areas within 55 miles east and west of a line stretching from Bartlesville to south of Chandler. Residents are advised to stay alert and be ready to act quickly if a tornado warning is issued.
Adding to the SPC’s October 30 update, there were zero filtered tornado reports. However, weather conditions may change rapidly. The SPC advises everyone in affected areas to stay informed by monitoring local news, keeping emergency plans ready, and preparing to seek shelter if a tornado warning is issued.
The state weather team has been on high alert for tornado activity since early October, especially after spotting tornadoes in Florida linked to Hurricane Milton, as we previously reported.
As of Wednesday morning, October 9, 2024, multiple tornadoes were reported across South Florida. The National Weather Service Miami-South Florida (NWS Miami) office issued urgent warnings as more severe weather, fueled by the approach of Hurricane Milton, sweeps across several counties.
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