Tornado Watch 18

Issued

Mar 20, 2018, 12:43 PM EDT (16:43 UTC)

Expired

Mar 20, 2018, 8:00 PM EDT

In force

7 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

2 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:46 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

50%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

20%

Ten or more severe hail reports

50%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

30%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

70%

• Mesoscale Discussion 157Mar 20, 9:50 AM EDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 158Mar 20, 12:05 PM EDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 160Mar 20, 1:00 PM EDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 161Mar 20, 2:48 PM EDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 162Mar 20, 4:16 PM EDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 163Mar 20, 6:10 PM EDT

361 
WWUS20 KWNS 201641
SEL8  
SPC WW 201641
GAZ000-SCZ000-CWZ000-202300-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 18
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1240 PM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Southeast Georgia
  Coastal South Carolina
  Coastal Waters

* Effective this Tuesday afternoon and evening from 1240 PM until
  700 PM EDT.

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

SUMMARY...Scattered to numerous storms are expected to develop
across the coastal plain this afternoon ahead of a cold front. Some
of these should be severe with a risk for tornadoes, large hail, and
damaging wind.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles
east and west of a line from 35 miles south southeast of Waycross GA
to 55 miles north northeast of Charleston SC. 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 17...

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 25035.

...Grams

Tornado Watches in Georgia, 2018Tornado Watches in South Carolina, 2018Every tornado watch in 2018

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.