Although December weather is usually mild in the Midwest, there will be a huge storm system tonight. Whether we like it or not, we are about to be overwhelmed by a series of powerful thunderstorms, which may produce heavy rainfall, destructive winds, and even hail and strong tornadoes. The biggest threat in the three states is from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. This is a map that gives a better overview of when you can see the worst.

Severe thunderstorms may break out in an organized manner tonight. The main hazards will be destructive winds and tornadoes, including the possibility of several strong tornadoes.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop in southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois in the early evening, and then continue throughout the night in southwest Indiana and western Kentucky. Conditions will be conducive to the occurrence of destructive winds and tornadoes along the intermittent storm line, and several long orbit tornadoes may occur.

Outside of thunderstorms, foggy areas can restrict visibility in some places, especially parts of southeastern Missouri, until morning. From tonight to early Saturday morning, there may be strong gradient non-thunderstorm gusts of 30 to 40 mph.

NWS also requires you to be prepared. This is what you need to do.

Make sure you have a weather radio with you. If you don’t have one, you can buy it at a sporting goods store or a large store today.

Make sure you can receive alerts on your phone. The following are instructions to ensure that they are turned on. You can also register on encodered.org. To create your account and set up your registration to receive CodeRED alerts, you can visit Public.CodeRED.org and follow the instructions provided to register to start receiving alerts.

And make sure you download our app and turn on alerts for more updates, as they are available from NWS and Witness News.

Prepare your running shoes and suitable clothes. Put them by your bed in case you need to take a break.

This can be any type of helmet you have, such as a bicycle helmet or a construction helmet. It's better to be safe and look a little clumsy than sorry.

Make a plan before you receive a tornado warning. The CDC recommends, “Go to the basement or lowest-level indoor rooms without windows (bathrooms, closets, central corridors). If possible, avoid hiding in rooms with windows. For added protection, hide under sturdy objects ( A heavy table) or workbench). Cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag or mattress."

In the event of a power outage, make sure you are prepared. Prepare a usable flashlight for everyone in your family. And make sure that your phone and portable battery charger are both charged.