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092 

WWUS20 KWNS 051639

SEL8

SPC WW 051639

IAZ000-MNZ000-060000-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 248

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

1140 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2012



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       NORTH-CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA

       SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA



EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY MORNING AND EVENING FROM 1140 AM UNTIL

700 PM CDT.



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 55

STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 40 MILES SOUTH

SOUTHWEST OF REDWOOD FALLS MINNESOTA TO 60 MILES EAST OF

ROCHESTER MINNESOTA.  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 247...



DISCUSSION...ELEVATED MCS WITH EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS IS EXPECTED TO

CONTINUE EWD ACROSS THE WATCH AREA THIS AFTERNOON.  THE GRADUAL

BROADENING AND INTENSIFICATION OF A LLJ WILL ENHANCE THE INFLOW OF A

MODERATE-STRONGLY UNSTABLE AIR MASS INTO ONGOING STORMS.  GIVEN THE

RELATIVELY STRONG CLOUD-BEARING SHEAR...EXPECT SUPERCELL AND BOWING

STRUCTURES TO PERSIST WITH AN ASSOCIATED THREAT FOR LARGE HAIL AND

DAMAGING WINDS.



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 500. MEAN STORM

MOTION VECTOR 27030.





...MEAD

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