Tornado updates: At least 5 dead in Missouri as storms tear across US

As the Earth's temperature climbs, so does the threat of extreme weather events such as drought, wildfire, hurricanes and tornadoes -- all occurring more frequently and at higher magnitudes, according to climate scientists.

More violent and widespread tornado activity -- like the line of severe storms in recent days that killed dozens of people -- is expected in the future as global warming persists, experts told ABC News.

While such events have occurred in the past, the evidence points to climate change contributing to the frequency and magnitude of tornado behavior, experts told ABC News.

"This is a representation of what we might perhaps expect to happen in a particularly active tornado season as we move forward in a warming climate regime," said Jana Houser, associate professor of meteorology at Ohio State University, of the recent deadly tornado activity.

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The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for several regions under threat of severe storms on Wednesday.

Included in the advisory are central and southern Indiana, north-central Kentucky and southwest Ohio. The formation of tornadoes could be “likely” in cities like Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville, according to the NWS.

The threats include “widespread" damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, the advisory states.

The tornado watch is in effect until 5 p.m. ET.

An unspecified number of injuries and fatalities have been confirmed in Missouri's Bollinger County after a tornado hit the Glenallen area, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

At least nine other tornadoes had already been reported across Iowa and Illinois, including a "large and extremely dangerous tornado" that touched down near Canton, Illinois, on Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced he will visit hard-hit Bollinger County.

Parson will "assess damage and learn what resources will be needed during recovery" in the rural county in the state's southeast, he said in a tweet.

"We appreciate the work of our first responders and the many neighbors who reached out to help their neighbors, and our prayers are with the loved ones of those who were killed in the storms," the governor said.

Parts of eight states -- Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio -- are on alert for tornadoes Wednesday as a major storm sweeps through areas already reeling from devastating twisters.

As the storm continues to move east, severe weather is in the forecast for a vast area from western Texas to western New York.

The forecast comes just days after a powerful storm system unleashed violent tornadoes and severe thunderstorms across the country, killing at least 32 people and leaving thousands without power.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least 81 tornadoes touched down in 14 states on March 31 and April 1. It was the largest single tornado outbreak to hit the U.S. in a year, since the one that spawned 140 twisters in southeastern states -- from Texas to Maryland -- on April 12-13, 2020.