Tornado Watch 5

Issued

Feb 24, 2018, 3:16 PM CST (21:16 UTC)

Expired

Feb 24, 2018, 11:00 PM CST

In force

8 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

1.5 in

Strongest gust expected

65 kt

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:15 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

60%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

30%

Ten or more severe wind reports

80%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

30%

Ten or more severe hail reports

20%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

10%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

95%

• Mesoscale Discussion 91Feb 24, 2:58 PM CST
• Mesoscale Discussion 94Feb 24, 5:29 PM CST
• Mesoscale Discussion 95Feb 24, 6:40 PM CST
• Mesoscale Discussion 96Feb 24, 9:34 PM CST

071 
WWUS20 KWNS 242114
SEL5  
SPC WW 242114
ARZ000-ILZ000-KYZ000-MOZ000-MSZ000-TNZ000-250300-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 5
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
315 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Eastern Arkansas
  Southern Illinois
  Western Kentucky
  Southeast Missouri
  Northwest Mississippi
  West Tennessee

* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 315 PM until
  900 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 large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...A line of intense thunderstorms over central AR will track
rapidly eastward across the watch area this afternoon and evening. 
Damaging winds and a few tornadoes are the main threats.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 70 statute miles
north and south of a line from 10 miles west southwest of Walnut
Ridge AR to 30 miles northeast of Fort Campbell KY. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU5).

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 4...

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean
storm motion vector 24045.

...Hart

Tornado Watches in Tennessee, 2018Tornado Watches in Kentucky, 2018Tornado Watches in Arkansas, 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.