

148 

WWUS20 KWNS 051836

SEL9

SPC WW 051836

NCZ000-SCZ000-CWZ000-060200-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 249

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

240 PM EDT SAT MAY 5 2012



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

       NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA

       COASTAL WATERS



EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 240 PM UNTIL

1000 PM EDT.



HAIL TO 1.5 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 50

STATUTE MILES EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTH OF NEW

BERN NORTH CAROLINA TO 35 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF FLORENCE SOUTH

CAROLINA.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE

ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).



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.



OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 248...



DISCUSSION...TSTMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND

INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF A MIDLEVEL VORTICITY MAXIMUM

TRANSLATING SEWD ACROSS THE REGION.  AMBIENT AIR MASS HAS BECOME HOT

AND MODERATELY UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON WITH MLCAPE VALUES UPWARDS OF

1000-2000 J/KG.  THIS INSTABILITY COMBINED WITH GRADUALLY

STRENGTHENING DEEP-LAYER FLOW ATTENDANT TO IMPULSE WILL SUPPORT

MULTICELL CLUSTERS AND LINE SEGMENTS CAPABLE OF DAMAGING WINDS AND

HAIL.



AVIATION...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 29020.





...MEAD

