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000 

WWUS20 KWNS 182041

SEL9

SPC WW 182041

MNZ000-NDZ000-190400-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 279

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

345 PM CDT FRI MAY 18 2007



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       NORTHWEST MINNESOTA

       NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA



EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 345 PM UNTIL

1100 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 65

STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 15 MILES WEST

NORTHWEST OF WILLISTON NORTH DAKOTA TO 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF

THIEF RIVER FALLS MINNESOTA.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE

WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).



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...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOW FORMING OVER NORTHWEST

ND...ALONG AND SOUTH OF SURFACE COLD FRONT.  THIS ACTIVITY WILL

LIKELY INTENSIFY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WHILE NEW STORMS FORM

FARTHER EASTWARD ALONG FRONT.  FAVORABLE VERTICAL SHEAR AND MODERATE

INSTABILITY WILL POSE A RISK OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN

STRONGER CELLS.



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 27035.





...HART

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