SEVERE WEATHER FOR THE OZARKS

Southwest Missouri expects another punch in the gut Thursday night. The National Weather Service says:

SCATTERED SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 70 MPH...AND A FEW TORNADOES...WILL ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.

The current convection watch has the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks smack in the middle of the madness. Prepare to huddle.

Updated 9 p.m. Most of the bad storms have moved north of Springfield. Still some chance of severe weather Thursday night, but for now, better than expected.

Updated 8:06 p.m. Tornado warning for western edge of Missouri, heading this way. From the National Weather Service:

AT 755 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A CONFIRMED TORNADO ON THE GROUND. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PURCELL...OR 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF CARTHAGE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

AT 800 PM HAM RADIO OPERATORS REPORTED THAT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE 1 MILE EAST OF ASBURY WITH DAMAGE TO HOMES AND LARGE TREES UPROOTED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION!

Fast-moving storms should hit Springfield within the next couple hours.