(MSC News)-- The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches for the listening area.

In Southeast Nebraska the Watch is in effect until 10 p.m. for Richardson, Pawnee, Nemaha, Johnson, Gage and Jefferson counties.

A tornado watch has been issued for counties in Northeast, Kansas and Northwest, Missouri until 11 p.m. for the following counties in Northeast, Kansas: Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Nemaha, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall and Pottawatomie.

Included in this same tornado watch in Northwest, Missouri are Holt, Atchison, Nodaway, Buchanan, Andrew, DeKalb, and Worth counties.

Strong to severe storms are occurring this afternoon and evening across the area with large hail up to 3 inches in diameter and damaging winds up to 75 miles per hour are the primary threats. A few tornadoes are also possible.
The greatest threat of severe weather will be through 8 p.m.

More storms are expected beginning Wednesday afternoon and
continuing through Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The
greatest severe weather threat will exist near the Kansas border,
while the potential for flash flooding will encompass a larger
part of eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa.