Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 7pm

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 35
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
150 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010

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

PARTS OF NORTHERN ALABAMA
SMALL PARTS OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
PARTS OF SOUTHWEST KENTUCKY
MISSOURI BOOTHEEL
PARTS OF NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI
WESTERN AND PARTS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE

EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 150 PM UNTIL 700 PM CDT.

WIDELY SCATTERED DAMAGING WINDS
ISOLATED WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE
SCATTERED LARGE HAIL TO 2.0 INCHES IN DIAMETER
ISOLATED TORNADOES

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...LOW TOPPED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO INCREASE RAPIDLY ACROSS THE WATCH AS STRONG UPPER VORT/COLD POOL ROTATES ACROSS THE MS RIVER IN TN VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON. SHEAR PROFILES WILL BE STRONG AND PARTICULARLY EASTERN PORTION OF WATCH SUPPORT ROTATING STORMS. WHILE INSTABILITY WILL REMAIN GENERALLY LESS THAN 1000 J/KG OF MUCAPE...THE STEEP LAPSE RATES AND STRONG ASCENT ALONG WITH SHEAR SUPPORT NOT ONLY MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL BUT WIND DAMAGE. ADDITIONALLY IF SUPERCELLS ARE ABLE TO DEVELOP A BRIEF TORNADO THREAT AND LARGER HAIL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

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