

503 

WWUS20 KWNS 151827

SEL8

SPC WW 151827

GAZ000-NCZ000-SCZ000-CWZ000-160100-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 278

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

230 PM EDT TUE MAY 15 2012



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       EASTERN GEORGIA

       SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA

       CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA

       COASTAL WATERS



EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 230 PM UNTIL

900 PM EDT.



HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70

MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.



THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 80

STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF

SAVANNAH GEORGIA TO 40 MILES NORTH OF FLORENCE SOUTH CAROLINA.

FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH

OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).



REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE

FAVORABLE FOR 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. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY

DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.



DISCUSSION...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING ALONG THE SEA

BREEZE...AND OTHER STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM LATER THIS AFTERNOON

OVER INLAND AREAS OF EASTERN GA AND SC.  THESE STORMS WILL BE IN AN

ENVIRONMENT OF MODERATE INSTABILITY AND LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...ALONG

WITH SUFFICIENT VERTICAL SHEAR FOR ORGANIZED MULTICELL OR TRANSIENT

SUPERCELL STRUCTURES.  LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE

POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGER STORMS THROUGH MID EVENING.



AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT

TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60

KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM

MOTION VECTOR 25025.





...HART

