
MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0502
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0319 PM CDT FRI APR 17 2009
AREAS AFFECTED...PORTIONS S TX.
CONCERNING...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 161...
VALID 172019Z - 172115Z
THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 161
CONTINUES.
WW MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE SCHEDULED 00Z EXPIRATION...TO
COVER CONDITIONAL BUT INCREASING TORNADO CONCERN AS WELL AS
POTENTIAL FOR SRN-MOST TSTMS -- NOW EVIDENT OVER PORTIONS
MCMULLEN/LIVE OAK COUNTIES -- TO MOVE MORE DEVIANTLY RIGHTWARD AND
OUT OF PRESENT WW DOMAIN TOWARD PORTIONS SAN PATRICIO COUNTY.
SFC MESOANALYSIS INDICATES OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM EARLIER CONVECTION
FROM ABOUT 30 NW VCT SWWD TO NEAR COT...WITH INFLECTION POINT CLOSE
TO ONGOING ACTIVITY IN MCMULLEN COUNTY. FINE LINE AND COLLOCATED
CYCLONIC SHEAR ZONE APPEAR ON VIS IMAGERY SSWWD FROM THERE ACROSS
LRD AREA...MOVING SEWD 10-15 KT. WHILE REMOVED FROM LARGEST 0-1 KM
SRH THAT HAS PERSISTED FARTHER E ALONG MARINE FRONT...TSTMS IN SRN
PORTION WW WILL MAINTAIN RELATIVELY UNIMPEDED INFLOW OF MORE BUOYANT
BOUNDARY LAYER...AMIDST SOMEWHAT FAVORABLE SHEAR. MODIFIED RAOBS
AND RUC SOUNDINGS SUGGEST SFC TEMPS LOW-MID 80S -- LIKELY FOR
ANOTHER FEW HOURS -- WITH OBSERVED DEW POINTS UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S F
-- WILL WEAKEN MLCINH TO BELOW 25 J/KG AND YIELD MLCAPE NEAR 2500
J/KG. INTERPOLATED VWP DATA AND NEAR-TERM FCST WINDS SUGGEST
EFFECTIVE SHEAR MAGNITUDES 35-45 KT...WITH 0-1 KM SRH AROUND 300
J/KG ALONG BOUNDARY AND 100-200 J/KG TO ITS S...AND BACKING SFC FLOW
NEAR COAST.
FARTHER N ACROSS ERN HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT BLACKLAND PRAIRIE
REGION BELOW ESCARPMENT...WIDELY SCATTERED TO SCATTERED TSTMS --
ATOP OUTFLOW POOL FROM EARLIER MCS -- WILL SUBSIST OFF ELEVATED LOW
LEVEL WAA/MOISTURE TRANSPORT REGIME. EFFECTIVE SHEAR 30-45 KT WILL
BE POSSIBLE DEPENDING ON CONVECTIVE PLUME DEPTH...HOWEVER MUCAPES
SHOULD REMAIN IN 500-1000 J/KG RANGE. MAIN CONCERN WILL BE
OCCASIONAL HAIL...BUT THREAT DOES NOT APPEAR SUFFICIENTLY
CONCENTRATED/INTENSE TO WARRANT WW.