NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Forecasters warn of a possibly severe outbreak of storms across the central part of Tennessee.

Near-record high temperatures Friday afternoon and moisture-rich Gulf air will collide with an approaching cold front and thunderstorms will intensify.

Some moderate storms had developed before dawn Friday in Middle Tennessee.

The most dangerous tornado risk area, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, is expected to be from Middle and East Tennessee, northward across Kentucky to the Ohio River. NWS said a few long track tornadoes are possible.

Temperature and winds will increase across Friday and the cold front will move through, triggering storms from about noon near the western Tennessee River Valley through mid-evening farther east.

Strong wind and heavy rain was likely up the valley between Chattanooga and the Tri-cities.