Gov. Mike Kehoe has declared a State of Emergency across all of Missouri ahead of potential severe weather tonight.

A weather system that’s moving towards Missouri is expected to trigger severe thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes. Large hail and damaging winds are also possible.

The governor’s executive order activates Missouri’s Emergency Operations Plan, enabling state agencies to directly coordinate with local governments to provide any help that may be needed.

In addition, a Red Flag Warning is in effect for most of northern and central Missouri until 10:00 p.m. and until 1:00 a.m. Saturday for Taney, Douglas, Ozark, and Howell counties in southern Missouri. High winds and low humidity are combining to raise conditions for wildfires to break out. Cities under the Red Flag Warning include Jefferson City, Columbia, Chillicothe, Rock Port, Moberly, and Kirksville.

A High Wind Warning is in effect for portions of western, southwestern, and central, and east-central Missouri, including the Kansas City area, Springfield, Joplin, the Lake of the Ozarks, and Rolla. Finally, a Wind Advisory is in effect for much of eastern Missouri, including the St. Louis area, Hannibal, Farmington, Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, and the Bootheel region.