Urgent warning of severe storms hitting TOMORROW as forecasters warn of large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes

HEAVY storms are expected to hit Kansas tomorrow as forecasters warn of the potential for large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.

Forecasters expect the powerful storm to reach northeast Kansas by Friday afternoon and linger into the evening hours.

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The National Weather Service has warned residents they could see large hail, damaging winds and some tornadoes influenced by a cold front expected to sweep east across Kansas.

The cities of Topeka, Emporia, Wichita, Manhattan, Marysville and Concordia are at risk of seeing “intensified” storms on Friday.

Meanwhile, Lawrence and Ottawa see a slim chance of severe storms.

EXTREME WEEKEND FORECAST

The massive storm comes as extreme weather conditions are expected in parts of the southern and central United States this weekend, warning areas of potential tornadoes and flood warnings.

Strong winds, torrential downpours and violent thunderstorms are expected to hit the Plains and Missouri Valley overnight into Thursday and continue through the weekend.

A jet stream mix of warm and humid air in the plains and central US will result in heavier weather that could cause tornadoes and wind damage.

A flood warning was issued for the Northern Plains and parts of the Midwest over the weekend as the wet weather is expected to drop between 1 and 3 inches of rain.

Parts of the South, including North Texas, will see heavy rain again as the weekend closes.

INCREASE IN TORNADO ACTIVITY

As April draws to a close, the month of May begins, nationally notorious for its peak tornado activity.

May’s severe weather begins with a disruption in the jet stream pouring into the Plains from the Rocky Mountains, interacting with warm air and abundant moisture, Weather.com reports.

The US tornado season typically lasts from March through June but has already wreaked havoc across the South and Plains.

More than 200 tornadoes have made landfall in the US in four months so far, 17 of them in North Texas, a region that averages 23 tornadoes.

This year has produced the most March Twisters, beating a previous record of 192 in March 2017.