

000 

WWUS20 KWNS 261338

SEL9

SPC WW 261338

ALZ000-FLZ000-GAZ000-CWZ000-262000-



URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 79

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

835 AM EST TUE FEB 26 2008



THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF



       SOUTHEAST ALABAMA

       THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE

       SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

       COASTAL WATERS



EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 835 AM UNTIL

300 PM EST.



HAIL TO 1 INCH 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 70

STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 50 MILES NORTHWEST

OF PANAMA CITY FLORIDA TO 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF VALDOSTA GEORGIA.

 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.



OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 77...WW 78...



DISCUSSION...A BAND OF STRONG/SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE

QUICKLY EWD FROM SE AL INTO SW GA...AND ADDITIONAL WARM SECTOR STORM

DEVELOPMENT MAY OCCUR ACROSS THE FL PANHANDLE.  MODEST INSTABILITY

/MLCAPE VALUES NEAR 1000 J/KG/ IS PRESENT NOW ACROSS THE WATCH

AREA...AND ADDITIONAL LOW-LEVEL WARMING/MOISTENING WILL OCCUR TODAY.

 GIVEN THE STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW JUST ABOVE THE GROUND...THE

STRONGER EMBEDDED STORMS AND BOWING SEGMENTS WILL BE CAPABLE OF

PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS.  THOUGH LOW-LEVEL SHEAR SHOULD PEAK BY

MID-LATE MORNING...THIS AREA WILL ALSO BE MONITORED FOR ANY INCREASE

IN THE TORNADO THREAT WITH EMBEDDED OR DISCRETE STORMS BY LATE

MORNING OR MIDDAY.



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

TO 1 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS.

A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM MOTION

VECTOR 27045.





...THOMPSON

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