Severe thunderstorm warning for areas around KC; storm watch for KC area itself

Update: Severe thunderstorm warnings have also been issued for the area directly east of Kansas City, including Liberty and Excelsior Springs.

Multiple Missouri counties around Kansas City are under a severe thunderstorm warning on Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The most recent thunderstorm warning area covers Clinton County, northern Clay County, southwestern Caldwell County and northeastern Platte County, the NWS shared on Tuesday evening.

The potential exposure area for the storm includes 18 schools and a hospital, according to the NWS. Along with winds up to 70 mph, penny-sized hail may fall in some areas.

Storms could extend as far west as Platte City and includes Plattsburg, Turney, Trimble, Smithville, Kearney, Butler, Clinton, Sedalia, Boonville and Holt. Thunderstorm warnings have also been issued for Osgood, Milan, Galt and Winigan, while trees have been reported down in Plattsburg specifically.

Thunderstorms have already begun between Lathrop and Fairview, the NWS reported at 7:00 p.m. Residents have been advised by the National Weather Service to stay indoors and seek shelter in a room on the lowest floor of their building.

The immediate Kansas City area is currently under a severe thunderstorm watch, which is still potentially dangerous but somewhat less immediate. Heavy rains are expected Tuesday night in more than a dozen Kansas counties.

A heat advisory is also in effect in the Kansas City metropolitan area until 8:00 p.m.

A flash flood watch was issued for the Kansas City area earlier today as this week’s storms compound, The Star reported.