Tornado Watch 18

Issued

Jan 21, 2017, 7:50 PM CST (01:50 UTC)

Expired

Jan 21, 2017, 11:36 PM CST

In force

4 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

2.5 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 89 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:52 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Two or more tornadoes

70%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

60%

Ten or more severe wind reports

40%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

10%

Ten or more severe hail reports

40%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

40%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

90%

• Mesoscale Discussion 96Jan 21, 5:32 PM CST
• Mesoscale Discussion 97Jan 21, 6:05 PM CST
• Mesoscale Discussion 99Jan 21, 8:22 PM CST

193 
WWUS20 KWNS 220145
SEL8  
SPC WW 220145
ARZ000-LAZ000-MSZ000-220900-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 18
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
745 PM CST Sat Jan 21 2017

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Southeastern Arkansas
  Northeastern Louisiana
  Central and southern Mississippi

* Effective this Saturday night and Sunday morning from 745 PM
  until 300 AM CST.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes likely
  Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5
    inches in diameter possible
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY...A warm front will cross the region beneath strong vertical
shear.  In that setting, clusters of severe thunderstorms, including
supercells, are forecast to move across the watch area overnight,
offering large hail, damaging gusts and at least a few tornadoes. 
Some potential also exists for significant tornadoes (capable of EF2
or worse damage).

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 70 statute miles
north and south of a line from 50 miles south southwest of
Monticello AR to 20 miles east southeast of Meridian MS. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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...CONTINUE...WW 15...WW 16...WW 17...

AVIATION...Tornadoes and 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 450. Mean
storm motion vector 25030.

...Edwards

Tornado Watches in Mississippi, 2017Tornado Watches in Louisiana, 2017Tornado Watches in Arkansas, 2017Every tornado watch in 2017

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.