Tornado watch until 8 p.m.

Southeast Missourian

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 8 p.m. today for Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne counties.

Meteorologists are predicting a slight risk of severe thunderstorms until 6 p.m., with the the possibility of up to a quarter-inch of rain, strong winds and hail that could also produce "a tornado or two," the service said.