

814 

WWUS20 KWNS 262255

SEL2

SPC WW 262255

ALZ000-LAZ000-MSZ000-CWZ000-270600-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 72

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

555 PM CDT THU MAR 26 2009



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       SOUTHWEST ALABAMA

       EASTERN LOUISIANA

       SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

       COASTAL WATERS



EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY MORNING FROM 555 PM

UNTIL 100 AM CDT.



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 95 STATUTE

MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF

LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA TO 45 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MOBILE ALABAMA.  FOR

A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH

OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).



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 70...WW 71...



DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP EASTWARD ACROSS LA

THIS AFTERNOON IN VICINITY OF A RETREATING WARM FRONT.  VERTICAL

SHEAR WILL SLOWLY INCREASE THROUGH THE EVENING PROVIDING A RISK OF

SUPERCELLS CAPABLE OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED

TORNADOES.  THE THREAT FOR SEVERE STORMS MAY LINGER IN THIS REGION

UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT.



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

500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.





...HART

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