Tornado Watch 266

Issued

May 24, 2017, 3:46 PM EDT (19:46 UTC)

Expired

May 24, 2017, 9:54 PM EDT

In force

6 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

1.5 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 17 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:48 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

40%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

20%

Ten or more severe wind reports

40%

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

10%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

80%

• Mesoscale Discussion 830May 24, 2:10 PM EDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 832May 24, 3:13 PM EDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 836May 24, 6:59 PM EDT

209 
WWUS20 KWNS 241944
SEL6  
SPC WW 241944
NCZ000-SCZ000-VAZ000-CWZ000-250400-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 266
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
345 PM EDT Wed May 24 2017

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  central and eastern North Carolina
  eastern South Carolina
  southwestern Virginia
  Coastal Waters

* Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 345 PM until Midnight
  EDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A couple tornadoes possible
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
  Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...An area of thunderstorms spreading through the Carolina
piedmont will continue northeastward along a frontal zone across the
watch area through this evening, accompanied by a risk for tornadoes
and potentially damaging wind gusts.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 130 statute miles
east and west of a line from 40 miles west northwest of Roanoke
Rapids NC to 20 miles south of Jacksonville NC. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

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 262...WW 263...WW
264...WW 265...

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24035.

...Kerr

Tornado Watches in North Carolina, 2017Tornado Watches in Virginia, 2017Tornado Watches in South Carolina, 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.