Storms Hit Missouri, Kansas Cutting Power to Thousands

Heavy thunderstorms rolled through Missouri and Kansas Thursday morning, yanking down power lines and trees and causing power outages.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several sections around Missouri and Kansas and said storms could continue through the evening. The weather service also issued flash flood warnings for southeast Missouri.

Downed trees and power lines have left about 50,000 customers of Kansas City Power & Light without power. Ameren Missouri also reported on its website early Thursday that about 10,000 of its customers didn't have power, largely in central Missouri.

In Kansas, Westar Energy says numerous outages have also been reported, largely in the Topeka area.

The weather service says similar storms could spawn large hail and possible tornadoes in Kansas and Missouri.