Dangerously strong storms and tornadoes are possible Saturday and into Sunday from north central Texas up through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa and as far east as Wisconsin, the National Weather Services's Storm Prediction Center is warning.

And according to the prediction center, "this is only the second time a high risk has been issued for the ["day two"] forecast, and the first time ever it has been issued for the initial D2 outlook." That's how unusual and how serious the situation appears to be.

The Weather Channel has applied its "TOR: CON Index" to the forecasts and says that these area have "an above-average threat of ... severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, hail, and/or tornadoes" on Saturday and through the night into Sunday: