Is there a connection between US tornadoes and climate change?
0:59
(CNN) -
The first tornado watch of the day is in effect until 8 p.m. CST, for parts of western and central Iowa, northeastern Kansas, south central Minnesota, northwestern Missouri, eastern Nebraska and the southeastern tip of South Dakota, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
The alert covers more than 4 million people and includes Omaha, Grand Island, Lincoln, Sioux City and Des Moines.
Damaging wind gusts from storms of up to 144 km / h, along with some strong tornadoes, are possible in the watch area this afternoon and into the late hours of the night.
Additional alerts are likely to be issued during the afternoon and evening.
Tornadoes