Today, a severe weather outbreak has happened in Oklahoma, Southern and Central Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and other locations in the Midwest.
Some of those storms are slowly making their way to Kansas City.
Stay tuned here for more information throughout the night.
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UPDATE 8:18 p.m. - It should be noted that right now, no watch or warning has been issued for Wyandotte County. For those looking for good news about tonight's storms, KMBC reports that a Tornado Watch for the station's most northern viewership has been canceled, perhaps signaling that the tornado threat for Kansas City is more limited.
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UPDATE 8:22 p.m. - Apologies for making a non-KCK update, but a hospital in Creston, Iowa has apparently been hit by a tornado, CNN is reporting live right now. A search and rescue group has been dispatched to the location.
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UPDATE 8:30 p.m. - In a press release, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback is encouraging all Kansans to remain at home or at a location with a safe shelter during the night.
“This advice applies whether you are at home, at work, traveling or just out running some errands,” Brownback said via a press release. “If you’re at home or work, head for the basement or storm shelter as soon as a warning is given. Don’t wait. If you do not have a basement or other shelter, go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor. If you’re away from home, find out where the nearest shelter is so you can get there immediately.”
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UPDATE 8:35 p.m. - The National Weather Service updated its "threat-level" and forecast map for tonight.
Here's the tornado threat:
The metro area is just outside of the highest risk area for tornadoes.
Still, there could be significant wind damage, as the highest risk area for wind damage includes the metro.
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UPDATE 9:26 p.m. - KMBC Channel 9 has some photos of a tornado that hit around Salina, Kan., earlier tonight.
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UPDATE 9:42 p.m. - According to one of the meteorologists on The Weather Channel, Wichita may be directly hit by a large tornado within the next 20 minutes or so. If you have relatives down South of Kansas City, it might be time to tell them to get ready.
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UPDATE 10:36 p.m. - There's been "significant" damage reported at the airport in Wichita, per "The Weather Channel." Also reported is the fact the storm is intensifying. For Kansas City metro residents, there's good news - it appears this storm will miss Kansas City.
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UPDATE 10:49 p.m. - Again, if you have family or friends in Wichita, it might be time to give them a call.
Here's the warning from The National Weather Service:
IMPACT...THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. YOU COULD BE KILLED IF NOT UNDERGROUND OR IN A TORNADO SHELTER. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS IS LIKELY. MANY WELL BUILT HOMES AND BUSINESSES WILL BE COMPLETELY SWEPT FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS. DEBRIS WILL BLOCK MOST ROADWAYS. MASS DEVASTATION IS HIGHLY LIKELY MAKING THE AREA UNRECOGNIZABLE TO SURVIVORS.
