

327 

WWUS20 KWNS 231946

SEL6

SPC WW 231946

NCZ000-TNZ000-VAZ000-WVZ000-240200-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 56

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

350 PM EDT WED MAR 23 2011



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

       EASTERN TENNESSEE

       SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

       SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA



EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 350 PM UNTIL

1000 PM EDT.



TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 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 85 STATUTE

MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF ROANOKE

VIRGINIA TO 60 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE.  FOR

A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH

OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).



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.



OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 55...



DISCUSSION...SEMI-DISCRETE STRONG/SEVERE TSTMS WILL CONTINUE TO

STEADILY PROGRESS EASTWARD THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING

FROM EASTERN TN INTO SOUTHWEST VA/WESTERN NC. SEVERE HAIL/WINDS WILL

BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT WILL EXIST

AS WELL GIVEN THE DEGREE OF LOW LEVEL SHEAR.



AVIATION...TORNADOES AND 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

400. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 27040.





...GUYER

