An outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes is wreaking havoc across the nation's heartland, with devastating weather expected to continue into the weekend. The ongoing onslaught, which began on Friday, has already brought widespread destruction to parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Missouri.

Saturday marks the third day of this volatile weather pattern, with violent storms predicted to unleash significant tornadoes, large hail, and destructive straight-line winds. The hardest-hit areas are expected to be from northern Texas into Oklahoma and southeast Kansas. The National Weather Service has issued a rare Level 4 out of 5 risk of severe weather, warning of several strong tornadoes and the possibility of long-track EF3+ tornadoes in these regions.

As of 4:45 p.m. Central time, tornado watches are in effect from parts of northern Texas through southern Iowa. The Weather Service has labeled the tornado potential in the watch zone as a "particularly dangerous situation," emphasizing the likelihood of intense twisters. Cities including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita, and Dallas are within the Level 4 risk zone, which also encompasses the Interstate 35 corridor in Oklahoma.

The storm system began on Saturday morning in western Oklahoma and northern Texas before expanding eastward throughout the day. Numerous tornado warnings have already been issued, with several "large and extremely dangerous" twisters reported near Chilocco, Oklahoma, Munday and Seymour in Texas, and Howard, Kansas. Additional storms are forecasted for Saturday night, particularly along the Interstate 35 belt and through eastern Kansas and western Missouri.

In addition to the tornado threat, the region is also bracing for significant flooding, particularly in central and eastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, and western Missouri. Thunderstorm complexes are expected to bring heavy rains, with the potential for 3 to 5 inches or more in these areas, leading to a Level 3 out of 4 risk of flash flooding.

Friday's outbreak already saw the issuance of 156 severe thunderstorm warnings and 101 tornado warnings spanning from Texas to South Dakota, with numerous reports of tornadoes. One particularly intense tornado struck the greater Omaha area, causing destruction to entire neighborhoods. While there were no immediate reports of fatalities, social media imagery showed significant damage.

The National Weather Service declared multiple "tornado emergencies" as the storms moved from eastern Nebraska into southwest Iowa, emphasizing the life-or-death nature of the situation. Radar data suggests that the Omaha tornado may have reached EF4 strength or greater, with winds surpassing 170 mph.

As the severe weather continues its rampage, residents are urged to stay alert and heed all warnings issued by local authorities. The National Weather Service will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updated information to ensure the safety of those in the impacted regions.