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412 

WWUS20 KWNS 311806

SEL8

SPC WW 311806

ALZ000-FLZ000-GAZ000-MSZ000-CWZ000-010000-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 98

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

100 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       SOUTHERN ALABAMA

       THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE

       SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

       SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

       COASTAL WATERS



EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 100 PM UNTIL

700 PM CDT.



HAIL TO 1.5 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 185

STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF

DOTHAN ALABAMA TO 60 MILES SOUTH OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA.  FOR A

COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE

UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).



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.



OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 97...



DISCUSSION...A LARGE CLUSTER OF ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE

EXPAND EWD ALONG AND N OF THE WARM FRONT FROM SRN AL INTO SW GA/FL

PANHANDLE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.  A FEED OF RICH MOISTURE FROM THE

SW WILL HELP MAINTAIN STRONG/SEVERE STORMS N OF THE BOUNDARY...WHILE

EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR EMBEDDED SUPERCELL

STRUCTURES WHICH WILL LOCALLY ENHANCE THE HAIL THREAT.  THE TORNADO

THREAT IS NOT COMPLETELY NEGLIGIBLE NEAR THE FRONT ALONG THE

COAST...THOUGH IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW FAR INLAND THE BOUNDARY WILL

PROGRESS GIVEN WIDESPREAD CONVECTION...AND LOW-LEVEL SHEAR WILL

LIKELY WEAKEN LATER THIS AFTERNOON.



AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT

TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60

KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM

MOTION VECTOR 27025.





...THOMPSON

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