The U.S. National Weather Service has placed eastern Kansas under a slight risk for severe weather Saturday, May 21, 2011.

A possible funnel cloud can be seen in Shawnee County in this user submitted photo from Saturday, May 21, 2011.

12:56 a.m. update

The National Weather Service will allow the severe thunderstorm watch for Douglas County to expire at 1 a.m.

11:32 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado warning for southeastern Douglas County. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 1 a.m. Sunday.

11:02 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a new tornado warning in effect for southern Douglas County and northern Franklin County through midnight. Trained weather spotters continue to track storms capable of producing tornadoes near Baldwin City as well as Pomona.

Again, anyone in the affected areas is advised to seek shelter immediately.

10:54 p.m. update

Wellsville has been added to the list of cities that may be effected by the tornado reported on the ground near Baldwin City. Trained spotters advised the tornado was moving east at 30 miles per hour.

10:43 p.m. update

A tornado has been reported on the ground near U.S. Highway 59 near the Franklin County line. The tornado is heading east toward Baldwin City. Residents in the area are advised to seek immediate shelter in the lowest level of their buildings, away from windows. The tornado was located about six miles southwest of Baldwin City. Debris has been reported on the ground in the area.

10:40 p.m. update

The severe thunderstorm watch in effect for Douglas County has been extended through 1 a.m. Sunday. Severe weather has passed through no

9:58 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for southern Douglas County effective through 11 p.m. Saturday. The affected area includes Ottawa and Baldwin City. Anyone in the affected area should seek shelter immediately. The NWS advised the tornado could be wrapped in rain, making it nearly impossible to see. Spotters are tracking the tornado with is moving east at 35 miles per hour.

The tornado warning currently in effect for Franklin County has been extended until 11 p.m.

Damaging hail is once again expected to accompany the storm.

9:36 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued another tornado warning for Jefferson County, this one in effect until 10:30 p.m. The storm was located near Perry Lake about eight miles west of Oskaloosa. The NWS advised that tornadoes can be very difficult to spot at night and that anyone in the area should seek immediate cover. Large destructive hail is expected with the storm as well. The system is expected to move northeast at 35 miles per hour.

Another tornado warning is also in effect for areas near Osage County as another storm likely to produce a tornado moves through the area. That warning is in effect until 10:15 p.m.

8:47 p.m. update

All tornado warnings in the area have been canceled. Severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect for parts of northern Jefferson County. Minor damage from the storm was reported near Perry Lake but the majority of the weather passed without much incident.

8:35 p.m. update

The severe weather that produced several funnel clouds continues to move east through the state. The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado warning that was in place in Jefferson County and has extended the tornado warning in Leavenworth County through 8:57 p.m.

Douglas County remains under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. Saturday.

7:37 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has now extended the tornado warning into parts of Leavenworth County as the storm system makes its way east across Kansas. The warning in Leavenworth County is in effect until 8:15 p.m. Tennis ball-sized hail is expected to accompany the storm.

Journal-World photographer Richard Gwin is currently with weather spotters near McLouth watching what they say is a supercell developing.

7:28 p.m. update

The severe weather system that moved through portions of Douglas County Saturday evening has continued producing tornadoes, including one spotted near Perry Lake about six miles southwest of Oskaloosa. The tornado was reported just after 7:20 p.m. The storm has also produced hail the size of baseballs in some areas.

Have pictures from the passing storm? Submit them here and we’ll add them to our gallery.

7:09 p.m. update

The tornado warning for Douglas County has been canceled early. The storm will continue north of the county and a tornado warning is still in effect for Jefferson County. The severe thunderstorm watch for Douglas County remains in effect until 11 p.m.

7:02 p.m. update

The storm system that has been producing funnel clouds and damaging hail has also reportedly stopped Union Pacific trains on the westbound tracks toward Topeka. Damage from the reported tornado touchdown in Lecompton has not been confirmed. The storm is currently near Perry and predicted to continue heading north toward the Oskaloosa area.

6:56 p.m. update

A tornado has been reported on the ground two miles west of Whitfield, near Lecompton. Anyone in the area is advised to seek shelter in a basement or storm shelter immediately. We have a photographer en route to the area as well.

6:49 p.m. update

The tornado warning for Douglas County has been extended through 7:45 p.m. for the extreme northern part of the county. The storm system has produced funnel clouds and damaging hail.

6:39 p.m. update

The tornado warning for extreme northwest portion of Douglas County is in effect until 7 p.m. Douglas County sheriff’s deputies have reported multiple funnel clouds visible in Shawnee County. A touchdown has also been reported in Topeka.

6:29 p.m. update

A funnel cloud has been reported near Topeka. The current warning for northwest Douglas County does not cover Lawrence, but the storm is heading east. Multiple reports on Twitter have reported that the tornado has touched down in Topeka. Emergency weather messages indicated the funnel cloud was seen in Shawnee County and the storm is capable of producing a tornado at any time.

6:15 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for northwestern Douglas County effective through 7 p.m. Saturday. Trained spotters located a funnel cloud in the area moving east at 25 miles per hour. People in the affected area are advised to seek shelter immediately.

The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 11 p.m.

5:17 p.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Douglas County effective until 11 p.m. Saturday.

7:59 a.m. update

The National Weather Service forecast calls for more rain and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening in east-central, north-central and northeast Kansas.

Some of these storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes being the primary threat.

The eastern half of Kansas has been placed under a slight risk for severe weather by the NWS.

Check back with LJWorld.com for updates.