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URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 292

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

145 PM EDT WED MAY 23 2012



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

       NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA

       COASTAL WATERS



EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 145 PM UNTIL

900 PM EDT.



HAIL TO 2 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 80

STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES SOUTH

SOUTHWEST OF FLORENCE SOUTH CAROLINA TO 35 MILES WEST NORTHWEST

OF ELIZABETH CITY NORTH CAROLINA.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF

THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS

WOU2).



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.



DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND

INTENSIFY THIS AFTERNOON AS A COMPACT UPPER LEVEL CIRCULATION AND

ASSOCIATED COLD CORE ALOFT MOVES NNEWD ACROSS ERN NC.  STRONG

HEATING AND DESTABILIZATION IS OCCURRING ALONG THE PATH OF THE UPPER

SYSTEM...WITH MLCAPE OF 1500-2000 J/KG.  ALTHOUGH WINDS ALOFT AND

VERTICAL SHEAR ARE MODEST AT BEST...STEEP LAPSE RATES WILL PROMOTE

FORMATION OF CELLS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND LOCALIZED

STRONG WIND GUSTS.



AVIATION...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 450. MEAN STORM

MOTION VECTOR 22015.





...WEISS

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