STORM2K

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 126
STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
350 PM CDT FRI APR 18 2003

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

EXTREME SOUTHWEST IOWA
NORTHEAST KANSAS
EXTREME NORTHWEST MISSOURI
SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA

EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 350 PM UNTIL 1000
PM 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 85 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST
OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF LINCOLN NEBRASKA TO 20
MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF EMPORIA KANSAS.

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...RAPID DESTABILIZATION EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER NE
KS/SE NEB...WITH SURFACE-BASED CAPE OF 1000-2000 J/KG EXPECTED IN
THE NEXT 2-4 HOURS OVER MOST OF NE KS AND SE NEB. EXPECT
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP BY 22-23Z NEAR THE SYNOPTIC TRIPLE POINT
IN S CENTRAL NEB...AND NEAR A SECONDARY INTERSECTION OF A
CONFLUENCE AXIS AND THE WARM FRONT IN NE KS. VERTICAL SHEAR
REMAINS STRONG OVER THIS AREA...AND THE COMBINATION OF SHEAR/
INSTABILITY WILL SUPPORT SUPERCELLS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS. ADDITIONALLY...LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE/SHEAR WILL BECOME
SUFFICIENT FOR A TORNADO THREAT ACROSS NE KS/SE NEB THIS EVENING.


AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND
GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500.
MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.