The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded most of our entire viewing area to a moderate risk for severe weather. Two ingredients that were in question yesterday have already come together this morning to indicate a severe weather outbreak for Wednesday afternoon and evening. Moisture and Destabilization were in question, so here's an explanation of both.

1. Moisture: Moisture has abundantly increased over the last 12 hours. Last night at 10 p.m. dewpoints were only in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Dewpoint temperatures have climbed into the 60s across the area this morning. In fact, dewpoints could climb as high as 70 degrees this afternoon, increasing the amount fuel for thunderstorms.

2. Destabilization: We're seeing pockets of sunshine across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas this morning. If the sun continues to warm temperatures into the 70s we'll see very steep lapse rates as the trough moves overhead. A lapse rate is the change of temperature as you go higher in altitude. The higher the lapse rate, the more unstable the atmosphere. Steep lapse rates are a decent indicator for large hail.

We're expecting storm activity after 3 p.m. this afternoon. Please keep checking the blog for other updates throughout the day.