STORM2K

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 120
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
640 PM CDT SAT APR 24 2004

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF:

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
SOUTHWEST INDIANA
WESTERN KENTUCKY
EXTREME SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
WESTERN AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE

EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY NIGHT FROM 640 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 75 STATUTE MILES EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES SOUTH OF POPLAR BLUFF MISSOURI TO 40 MILES NORTH OF BOWLING GREEN KENTUCKY.

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.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...THIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 118. WATCH NUMBER 118 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER 640PM CDT.

DISCUSSION...BROKEN SQUALL LINE CONTINUES MOVING ENEWD AT ABOUT 30KT INTO AREA OF GREATER INSTABILITY. HIGHER LOW LEVEL SHEAR AND HELICITY EXIST FROM SERN MO INTO THE LOWER OH VALLEY ALONG WARM FRONT. A FEW SUPERCELLS AND BOWED LINE SEGMENTS ACROSS THE REGION
COULD PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS.