Severe tstm watch...

[WXBUFFJIM]

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 77
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
745 PM CDT SAT APR 17 2004

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

NORTHERN IOWA
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING FROM 745 PM UNTIL
100 AM CDT.

HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 45 STATUTE MILES
NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 25 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF FAIRMONT
MINNESOTA TO 65 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF ROCHESTER MINNESOTA.

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...THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP RAPIDLY IN STRONG
WARM ADVECTION ZONE ACROSS NRN IA/SRN MN. VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN
WARM SECTOR SRN IA WILL BE LIFTED AND WITH FAVORABLE VEERING SHEAR
PROFILES...SUPPORT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. PRIMARY THREAT INITIALLY
WILL BE LARGE HAIL...PARTICULARLY WITH ANY SUPERCELLS THAT DEVELOP.

AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
TO 2.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 26035.


...HALES