The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for portions of southeast Nebraska, extreme southwest Iowa, northeast Kansas and extreme northwest Missouri, until 10 p.m. This includes the Omaha metro area.

Tornadoes, hail to two inches in diameter, thunderstorm wind gusts to 70 mph and dangerous lightning are possible in these areas.

The tornado watch area is along and 85 statute miles east and west of a line from 30 miles north, northwest of Lincoln to 20 miles south, southeast of Emporia Kansas.

A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.