Tornado Watch 4

Issued

Feb 24, 2018, 11:01 AM CST (17:01 UTC)

Expired

Feb 24, 2018, 7:00 PM CST

In force

8 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

2 in

Strongest gust expected

65 kt

The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 155 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:02 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

40%

Ten or more severe wind reports

80%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

50%

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 89Feb 24, 10:26 AM CST
• Mesoscale Discussion 90Feb 24, 1:39 PM CST
• Mesoscale Discussion 94Feb 24, 5:29 PM CST

344 
WWUS20 KWNS 241659
SEL4  
SPC WW 241659
ARZ000-LAZ000-OKZ000-TXZ000-250000-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 4
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1100 AM CST Sat Feb 24 2018

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Central and Southern Arkansas
  Northwest Louisiana
  Southeast Oklahoma
  Northeast Texas

* Effective this Saturday morning and evening from 1100 AM until
  600 PM CST.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
  Widespread damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 75 mph possible
  Isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...Thunderstorms will intensify over northeast Texas,
spreading into parts of LA and AR this afternoon.  Supercells
capable of tornadoes and damaging winds are possible throughout the
watch area.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 80 statute miles
north and south of a line from 45 miles south southwest of Paris TX
to 55 miles northeast of Pine Bluff AR. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU4).

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 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean
storm motion vector 24040.

...Hart

Tornado Watches in Arkansas, 2018Tornado Watches in Texas, 2018Tornado Watches in Louisiana, 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.