This story will be updated. Follow along for live updates throughout the evening.

A tornado watch is in effect for the Greater Cincinnati area Wednesday night.

At approximately 9:15 p.m., the National Weather Service placed multiple Ohio counties under a tornado watch until 4 a.m. Thursday.

This includes counties in Greater Cincinnati such as Hamilton County, Butler County, Warren County and Clermont County. The tornado watch is also in effect for Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky and Dearborn, Ripley, Ohio and Switzerland counties in Southeast Indiana, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

A tornado watch means weather conditions are favorable for a tornado, said meteorologist Ashley Novak. Watches are typically issued hours before a tornado warning. Warnings are issued when a tornado is imminent or occurring.

When a watch is issued, the National Weather Service urges people to prepare for the possibility of a tornado.

Severe storms are expected to hit the Greater Cincinnati region between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. and last for roughly one hour, Novak said.

Kentucky Gov. Beshear declares state of emergency

Gov. Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency ahead of anticipated severe storms Wednesday, and said in a statement he is especially concerned about the high risk for tornadoes in west Kentucky.

The executive order signed by the governor allows officials to coordinate an emergency response plan from the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center and mobilize the Kentucky National Guard, among other actions.

While much of the Louisville area is at a moderate risk for severe weather, the fourth-highest of five categories issued by the National Weather Service, west Kentucky, including Paducah, is in the highest risk level.

“Remember, these can be strong tornadoes, EF-2 and greater,” Beshear said. “We’re really concerned about people’s safety, especially in the overnight, because when storms or tornadoes hit while people are asleep, that’s sadly when we’ve lost the most people. So, everybody out there, be really careful.”

Beshear also activated the state’s price gouging laws. Consumers are advised to report price gouging to the Office of the Attorney General.

–Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier-Journal

How to prepare for nighttime tornadoes

As severe storms, and possibly even a tornado or two, rip their way through Greater Cincinnati this late evening, the National Weather Service encourages residents to prepare for emergency situations.

In the event of nighttime tornadoes, the weather service highly recommends having multiple ways to receive weather alerts. The National Weather Service in Wilmington regularly posts updates to their X account, and the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency has their own alert system you can sign up for, as does the city of Cincinnati. An NOAA weather radio is also good way to listen for updates.

Residents should also have a safe place prepared ahead of time. Phones should always be turned on and charged, and flashlights and shoes should be handy.

If you need to shelter from a tornado, the weather service says to move to your house’s basement and bring an emergency supply kit. If there’s no basement, move to an interior room with no windows. Top-floor rooms, exterior rooms with windows and going outside does not protect you from a tornado, the weather service adds.

Forecast: Severe weather risk increased for parts of Greater Cincinnati, NKY. Here’s what to expect

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati weather: Tornado watch issued as severe storms move in