

083 

WWUS20 KWNS 172045

SEL2

SPC WW 172045

TXZ000-CWZ000-180300-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 162

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

345 PM CDT FRI APR 17 2009



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       TEXAS COASTAL PLAINS

       COASTAL WATERS



EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 345 PM UNTIL

1000 PM 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 55 STATUTE

MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PORT

ARTHUR TEXAS TO 25 MILES WEST OF ALICE TEXAS.  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 160...WW 161...



DISCUSSION...MCS OVER SE TX AND SEVERE CONVECTION WEST OF THE TX

COASTAL BEND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EWD ACROSS THE TEXAS COASTAL

PLAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. THE ENVIRONMENT IS

CHARACTERIZED BUT ABUNDANT LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE...STRONG LOW-LEVEL

SHEAR AND SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY FOR LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES.



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 24020.





...BROYLES/HART

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