**Severe Weather Set to Disrupt Halloween Plans for Millions in Central U.S.**

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Over 30 million residents in the central United States could see their Halloween festivities disrupted as severe weather conditions loom over the region. The forecasted inclement weather is expected to bring damaging winds, hail, and severe thunderstorms through Halloween, creating a multiday threat.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center has placed the Kansas City metro area under a Level 3 out of 5 threat for severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. Meteorologists emphasize that the cold front moving through the central and southern Plains will create conditions ripe for thunderstorm development as warmer temperatures merge along the front.

"We are witnessing a weather pattern more characteristic of spring during this fall transition," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin explained, noting the unusual seasonal crossover.

Beginning on Tuesday, parts of the Midwest and Plains, from Oklahoma to Iowa, faced a Level 1 threat on the NOAA's 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale. Towns like Omaha, Wichita, and Woodward were specifically identified as vulnerable to initial storm activities.

By Wednesday, the severe weather threat intensifies, particularly for Kansas City, where a Level 3 threat has been forecasted by the SPC. Other cities, including Dallas and Oklahoma City, are under a Level 2 threat. Experts like FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan predict that areas from North Texas through the Missouri Ozarks and up to Kansas City could experience large hail and damaging winds, with a minor risk of tornadoes as well.

Halloween activities, such as trunk-or-treat events, should be approached with caution, especially by Wednesday afternoon when storms are expected to escalate. The eastern advance of the cold front will likely diminish the severity of storms but could still result in rain affecting cities like Dallas, Little Rock, and Memphis by Halloween night.

Additionally, the threatening weather comes as parts of Kansas and Oklahoma are under Fire Weather Warnings due to strong winds and extremely dry vegetation, contributing to high fire weather risks.

The severe weather trajectory extends to the Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi Valley on Thursday. The SPC has indicated a Level 1 risk for regions from East Texas through Louisiana into southeastern Arkansas and western Mississippi.

This developing situation serves as a stark reminder for residents to stay alert and prepared as the severe weather system progresses through the region.