SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the following counties in southwest Missouri until 10 p.m.:

  • Barry
  • Christian
  • Dade
  • Dallas
  • Douglas
  • Greene
  • Jasper
  • Laclede
  • Lawrence
  • McDonald
  • Newton
  • Ozark
  • Polk
  • Stone
  • Taney
  • Webster
  • Wright
  • Skies began darkening just west of Republic at around 4:30 p.m.
  • Rain started falling outside Republic around 5:30 p.m.

Clouds have thinned enough and instability has increased enough (particularly southwest of Springfield) that severe thunderstorms could start developing soon.