Tornado Watch 231

Issued

May 17, 2017, 12:08 PM CDT (17:08 UTC)

Expired

May 17, 2017, 7:00 PM CDT

In force

7 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

2 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:12 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

50%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

30%

Ten or more severe wind reports

30%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

10%

Ten or more severe hail reports

30%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

30%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

95%

• Mesoscale Discussion 747May 17, 11:39 AM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 749May 17, 2:25 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 750May 17, 2:38 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 751May 17, 3:24 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 752May 17, 6:05 PM CDT

729 
WWUS20 KWNS 171706
SEL1  
SPC WW 171706
IAZ000-KSZ000-MOZ000-NEZ000-180000-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 231
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1205 PM CDT Wed May 17 2017

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  much of western and central Iowa
  parts of northeast Kansas
  portions of northern Missouri
  parts of eastern Nebraska

* Effective this Wednesday afternoon and evening from 1205 PM
  until 700 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
  Isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter possible
  Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY...Thunderstorms have begun to develop early this afternoon
across parts of north-central Kansas and into the mid-Missouri
Valley area, and should continue expanding/spreading northeast
across the WW area over the next several hours.  Large hail and
locally damaging winds will be possible, along with a few tornadoes
this afternoon and into the early evening hours.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 115 statute miles
north and south of a line from 5 miles west northwest of Beatrice NE
to 5 miles east northeast of Knoxville IA. For a complete depiction
of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU1).

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.

&&

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 450. Mean
storm motion vector 21040.

...Goss

Tornado Watches in Iowa, 2017Tornado Watches in Missouri, 2017Tornado Watches in Nebraska, 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.