(MSC News)--The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for much of the local area. 

The watch, issued Thursday afternoon, will remain in effect until 10:00 Thursday night, and includes the local area northeast Kansas counties of Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha and Pottawatomie.

The watch also includes the local area northwest Missouri counties of Buchanan, Platte, Andrew, and Holt, as well as the southeast Nebraska counties of Richardson, Pawnee, Nemaha and Otoe.

A watch means conditions are favorable for the possible development of severe weather, but such development is not imminent.