URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 85
STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1205 PM CST FRI APR 4 2003
THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
CENTRAL AND EASTERN MISSOURI
EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON FROM 1205 PM UNTIL 500 PM CST.
TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 70 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND
SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 20 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF KNOB NOSTER
MISSOURI TO 20 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS.
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND 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.
DISCUSSION...THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY OVER
CENTRAL MO DURING THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS AS STRONG UPPER JET APPROACHES
REGION. MODERATE INSTABILITY AND STRONG DEEP LAYER VERTICAL SHEAR
PROFILES WILL LIKELY RESULT IN SUPERCELL STORMS CAPABLE OF LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. ACTIVITY WILL
LIKELY ORGANIZE INTO AN MCS BY LATE AFTERNOON...WITH DAMAGING WINDS
BECOMING THE MAIN THREAT.
AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND
GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500.
MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.
...HART
