Severe weather and flooding will continue across the Central U.S. today as a low pressure system strengthens.

The same low pressure system that produced multiple tornadoes, high winds, and large hail from west central Texas to Arkansas will bring another round of severe weather through the day today for central parts of the U.S. As the low pressure strengthens the atmosphere will remain destabilized as it picks up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and increases upper-level winds.

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk from northwestern Louisiana to western Illinois and southeastern Iowa. 

Large hail, high winds, and even a strong tornado or two will be possible before activity weakens later this evening. 

Tornado Watches have been issued for much of Missouri and Arkansas, the western half of Illinois northeastern Texas and northwestern Louisiana. Cities such as St. Louis and New Madrid, Mo. Springfield, and Peoria, Ill., and Jonesboro, Hot Springs, Texarkana, Ark. are included.

Missouri has taken the biggest hit today with numerous reports of localized flooding and damaging wind gusts. A few reports in Missouri clocked wind gusts of 70 mph. Additionally nearly 15,000 customers are without power tonight.   

The repeated days of storms over the same regions will also introduce the risk of flooding and flash flooding today. Additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is likely, which is why Flood Watches are in place across northern Texas, central and eastern Oklahoma, southeastern Kansas, northwestern Arkansas, Missouri, and parts of central and southern Illinois.

Be sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning. A watch means that all the ingredients for severe weather to take place are there, while a warning indicates that the severe weather has already formed, and you should take action to keep your friends and family safe. Be sure to stay up to date with your latest local forecasts, and check WeatherBug frequently for any alerts that may be issued.