Weather officials are warning Lyon County residents to prepare for potentially severe thunderstorms expected to move through the region overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe storm warning for eastern Kansas, with the Emporia area and surrounding Lyon County facing potential storm impacts beginning around 7 p.m. tonight.

According to meteorologists, storm clusters will initially develop in north central Kansas Tuesday evening, with isolated storms forming in east central Kansas, including the Emporia area. The greatest risk window for Lyon County begins after 7 p.m. and continues through the overnight hours.

"We expect storm movement from southwest to northeast across the region," said a Weather Service spokesperson. "The storms will likely intensify during the 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. timeframe as they push into Nebraska while maintaining a line extending southward through our area."

Forecasters indicate the yellow-shaded region, which includes Emporia, faces the highest chance for severe storms. Local emergency management officials encourage residents to keep weather alerts accessible overnight.

The storm system is projected to move eastward through early Wednesday morning before exiting the area by approximately 7 a.m.