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WWUS20 KWNS 241650

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SPC WW 241650

ALZ000-GAZ000-250200-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 861

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

1145 AM CDT SUN AUG 24 2008



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ALABAMA

       SOUTHWESTERN AND EXTREME WEST-CENTRAL GEORGIA



EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY MORNING AND EVENING FROM 1145 AM UNTIL 900

PM CDT.



TORNADOES...HAIL TO 0.5 INCH IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND

GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE

AREAS.



THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 75 STATUTE

MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DOTHAN

ALABAMA TO 15 MILES NORTH OF BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA.  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...DESPITE WEAKENING CENTRAL REGION...OUTER PORTIONS OF

RESIDUAL TD FAY CIRCULATION CONTINUE TO SHOW FAVORABLE SHEAR FOR

SUPERCELLS WITH ONLY GRADUAL WEAKENING OF WINDS JUST ABOVE GROUND

LEVEL THROUGH AFTERNOON/EVENING...AND 0-1 KM SRH REMAINING IN

200-400 J/KG OVER MUCH OF WW AREA.  CONVECTIVE COVERAGE FCST TO

INCREASE IN VERY MOIST AND WEAKLY CAPPED AIR MASS...INCLUDING

ADDITIONAL MINI-SUPERCELLS WITH INCREASING RISK OF A FEW TORNADOES.



AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL

SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 0.5 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE

WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO

500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 16035.





...EDWARDS/HALES

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