Rare 'high risk' warning issued: Central U.S. braces for 'significant' tornado outbreak

Rare 'high risk' warning issued: Central U.S. braces for 'significant' tornado outbreak

Forecasters issued dire warnings Monday for a significant tornado outbreak that's expected in the central U.S. that could impact millions of people from Texas to the Dakotas.

“We are expecting a serious severe weather outbreak," said Jennifer Thompson, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

The outbreak of severe weather – with multiple strong, long-tracked tornadoes, large hail and severe thunderstorm gusts – "is expected over parts of the south-central Plains from this afternoon through evening," the Storm Prediction Center said.

The Center issued a rare "high risk" warning for portions of Oklahoma and Kansas, which included the Oklahoma City metro area. Such warnings are reserved only for the most serious severe weather days.

The forecast comes a week after a tornado outbreak killed four people in