A “major tornado outbreak” is expected to develop in the central U.S. states surrounding the area where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers meet, according to the U.S. Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
The National Weather Service is currently tracking two storms capable of producing tornadoes in western Missouri, including Kansas City.
A tornado watch, meaning the deadly storms may develop, was issued from Missouri to Indiana, including Indianapolis and St. Louis, according to the weather service. Memphis, downstream from where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers meet in southern Illinois, is covered by the storm center’s forecast for later today.
“The potential is increasing for a major tornado outbreak,” the center said. “Widespread wind damage and large hail are also a prominent concern through the evening hours.”
Today’s outbreak comes a day after tornadoes swept across Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma yesterday, killing 14 people, according to the Associated Press. Earlier this week, at least 122 people were killed by a tornado in Joplin, Missouri, the single deadliest U.S. twister on records going back to 1950.
After yesterday’s storms, American Airlines, the third- biggest U.S. carrier, canceled more than 250 flights at its Dallas-Fort Worth hub and pulled 62 planes from service to inspect for hail damage, according to an e-mail from Tim Smith, a spokesman for AMR Corp. (AMR)
Some flights were canceled because crews and aircraft were diverted to other cities during the storm.
Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV), based at Love Field in Dallas, expected to cancel or delay an undetermined number of flights as it checked eight aircraft for damage, a spokesman said today.
The National Weather Service is currently tracking two storms capable of producing tornadoes in western Missouri, including Kansas City.
A tornado watch, meaning the deadly storms may develop, was issued from Missouri to Indiana, including Indianapolis and St. Louis, according to the weather service. Memphis, downstream from where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers meet in southern Illinois, is covered by the storm center’s forecast for later today.
“The potential is increasing for a major tornado outbreak,” the center said. “Widespread wind damage and large hail are also a prominent concern through the evening hours.”
After yesterday’s storms, American Airlines, the third- biggest U.S. carrier, canceled more than 250 flights at its Dallas-Fort Worth hub and pulled 62 planes from service to inspect for hail damage, according to an e-mail from Tim Smith, a spokesman for AMR Corp. (AMR)
Some flights were canceled because crews and aircraft were diverted to other cities during the storm.
Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV), based at Love Field in Dallas, expected to cancel or delay an undetermined number of flights as it checked eight aircraft for damage, a spokesman said today.