

706 

WWUS20 KWNS 241356

SEL4

SPC WW 241356

NCZ000-VAZ000-WVZ000-242100-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 354

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

955 AM EDT TUE MAY 24 2011



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA

       WESTERN VIRGINIA

       SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA



EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 955 AM UNTIL

500 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 60

STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 65 MILES WEST OF

BLUEFIELD WEST VIRGINIA TO 5 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF LYNCHBURG

VIRGINIA.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE

ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).



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 352...WW 353...



DISCUSSION...MCS CURRENTLY CRESTING THE APPALACHIANS IS EXPECTED TO

INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES E OF THE BLUE RIDGE LATER THIS MORNING.  12Z

RNK SOUNDING SUGGESTS THAT AS TEMPERATURES WARM INTO THE LOWER

80S...STORMS SHOULD BECOME FIRMLY ROOTED WITHIN THE BOUNDARY LAYER

WHERE AIR MASS SHOULD BECOME MODERATELY UNSTABLE WITH MLCAPE OF

1000-1500 J/KG.  BELT OF 50+ KT WLY FLOW IN THE 700-500 MB LAYER

WILL ENHANCE FORWARD SPEED OF SYSTEM WITH THE PRIMARY THREAT BEING

DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.



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 27040.





...MEAD

