Tornado Watch 487

Issued

Sep 19, 2017, 3:37 PM CDT (20:37 UTC)

Expired

Sep 20, 2017, 12:00 AM CDT

In force

8 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

2.5 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:38 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

20%

Ten or more severe wind reports

50%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

20%

Ten or more severe hail reports

40%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

30%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

80%

• Mesoscale Discussion 1655Sep 19, 1:51 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 1657Sep 19, 6:36 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 1659Sep 19, 8:56 PM CDT

222 
WWUS20 KWNS 192035
SEL7  
SPC WW 192035
MNZ000-NDZ000-SDZ000-200500-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 487
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
335 PM CDT Tue Sep 19 2017

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Western Minnesota
  Eastern North Dakota
  Eastern South Dakota

* Effective this Tuesday afternoon from 335 PM until Midnight
  CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes possible
  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...Storms are expected to increase in coverage and intensity
along an east-advancing cold front with supercells and bowing line
segments capable of damaging wind, large hail and a few tornadoes
this afternoon and evening.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 95 statute miles
east and west of a line from 45 miles west northwest of Hallock MN
to 35 miles southwest of Mitchell SD. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU7).

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 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24035.

...Dial

Tornado Watches in South Dakota, 2017Tornado Watches in North Dakota, 2017Tornado Watches in Minnesota, 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.