(MSC News)--A Tornado Watch has been issued for the local area.

The National Weather Service issued the watch Thursday afternoon, and it will remain in effect until 10:00 Thursday night.

Local KS counties included in the watch are Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, and Pottawatomie.

In Missouri, local counties included in the watch are Buchanan and Platte.

A watch means that the potential exists for the development of storms, while a warning indicates that storms are imminent.