Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in two different general times Tuesday.

Early on, there is a marginal risk for wind and hail along and west of a line from Council Grove to El Dorado. Better chances for more widespread — and stronger — thunderstorms develop by Tuesday evening as an enhanced risk covers the entire KVOE listening area. National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Poage says there are several fronts or trigger boundaries that could lead to storms, and he sees a conditional risk ahead.

Currently, the lead concerns are hail to the size of eggs and wind gusts at or above 70 mph. Isolated tornadoes are also possible, but tornadic activity comes off the board if morning storms and cloud cover linger well into the day. Heavy rain is also possible, with some locations potentially getting 2 inches or more by Wednesday morning.

Tuesday’s severe weather potential comes as the National Weather Service Topeka office, which issues forecasts and alerts for Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties, is now into a mandatory system upgrade for its Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System through Wednesday. The Weather Service uses AWIPS to show and integrate weather and water information and send alerts to the public. The Wichita forecast office, which serves Chase and Greenwood counties in the KVOE listening area, is handling forecast operations during the AWIPS update, but Topeka Warning Coordination Meteorologist Chad Omitt says almost nothing changes from the public perspective — Topeka’s radar will function as normal, core services like forecasts and weather alerts will be distributed as usual and the Topeka office will be staffed through the upgrade.

There is one big exception: The NOAA Weather Radio transmitters handled by the Topeka office — including the Halls Summit facility covering most of the KVOE listening area — will be off air during the AWIPS upgrade. Omitt says residents need to have several ways to get watch and warning information, including radio, TV and special weather apps for mobile phones.

KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.