ST LOUIS (LALATE) – A Kansas and Oklahoma tornado watch for today 2012 has prompted local preparations across the region. Kansas and Oklahoma are under tornado watch until roughly 6 pm local time tonight Saturday April 14, 2012, officials told news moments ago. The announcement follows damage in Norman, Oklahoma yesterday.

NWS offices in Kansas and Oklahoma issued multiple news alerts to residents Saturday. First, the NWS in Wichita, Kansas shows a massive region under tornado watch today. They state that a tornado watch remains “valid until 6 pm CDT this evening” for Kansas counties Jewell, Phillips, Mitchell, Rooks, Osborne and Smith. NWS also tells news that the watch “includes the cities of Beloit, Mankato, Osborne, Phillipsburg, Plainville, Smith Center and Stockton”.

This second tornado watch supplemented a previous list of Kansas Counties announced to news shortly before 11 am. NWS initially detailed roughly three dozen counties; all those counties will remain on tornado watch until 6 pm CDT, officials confirm to news.

El Reno 2011 Tornado Pictures
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Second, Oklahoma NWS officials tell news that eight counties in its state are until tornado watch as well. The Oklahoma tornado watch for April 14 will remain in place until 6 pm CDT, officials tell news. The watch concerns the counties of Alfalfa, Grant, Woods, Ellis, Harper, Woodward, Garfield and Major. For more, click HERE and HERE.