National Weather Service

The National Weather Service has lost hundreds of employees since President Donald Trump took office, and its severe storm forecasts may be suffering. Two tornado outbreaks this year, one in Kansas, took forecasters by surprise. Some meteorologists warn that further cuts will create a new cluster of blind spots.

Northwestern Missouri experienced severe weather Tuesday night as tornado warnings were issued across the region, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding concerns.

Northern Missouri was hit by multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms over the weekend, bringing heavy rainfall, flooding and several tornadoes, with additional severe weather expected later in the week.

Round two of severe weather is possible for much of the region today.

Meteorologists confirmed tornadoes in Franklin County, Kansas and Linn County, Missouri. The Kansas City metro area went under tornado watch around 6:30 p.m., before lightning storms and rain rolled in.

A strong cold front is settling over the state, bringing dangerous wind chills and the potential for accumulating snow, according to the National Weather Service.