Tornado Watch 251

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 251
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
155 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2008
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
EASTERN ARKANSAS
MISSOURI BOOTHEEL
NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI
WESTERN TENNESSEE
EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 155 PM UNTIL 800
PM CDT.
TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 55 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 55 MILES NORTHEAST OF
DYERSBURG TENNESSEE TO 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GREENVILLE
MISSISSIPPI. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
DISCUSSION...SEVERAL SEVERE/SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS ARE AFFECTING
EASTERN AR...AND WILL MOVE ACROSS WATCH AREA IN THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS. VERTICAL WIND SHEAR PROFILES ARE VERY FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES...SOME STRONG...AS WELL AS DAMAGING WINDS. STRONG
INSTABILITY PARAMETERS ALSO FAVOR THE RISK OF LARGE HAIL IN STRONGER
CELLS.
AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.
...HART
ARKANSAS ASHLEY BRADLEY
CHICOT CRITTENDEN CROSS
DESHA DREW LEE
LINCOLN MISSISSIPPI MONROE
PHILLIPS ST. FRANCIS
MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ALCORN BENTON BOLIVAR
CALHOUN COAHOMA DESOTO
GRENADA LAFAYETTE LEFLORE
MARSHALL PANOLA PONTOTOC
QUITMAN SUNFLOWER TALLAHATCHIE
TATE TIPPAH TUNICA
UNION WASHINGTON YALOBUSHA