MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 2397
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0259 PM CST TUE DEC 27 2011
   
   AREAS AFFECTED...ERN NC
   
   CONCERNING...TORNADO WATCH 901...
   
   VALID 272059Z - 272200Z
   
   THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT FOR TORNADO WATCH 901 CONTINUES.
   
   THE GREATEST TORNADO THREAT IS EXPECTED TO BE ACROSS THE OUTER BANKS
   UNTIL ABOUT 23Z...ATTENDANT TO THE BROKEN LINE OF WELL ORGANIZED
   SUPERCELLS WHICH WERE LOCATED OFFSHORE THE NC COAST FROM 35 SW HSE
   TO 85 SSE ILM.  TRENDS IN REGIONAL RADAR IMAGERY INDICATED THE
   INDIVIDUAL STORMS ARE TRACKING NEWD AT 45 KT WHILE THE LINE ITSELF
   WAS MOVING E AT 15 KT.  GIVEN THESE MOTIONS...THE NRN EXTENT OF THE
   LINE SHOULD AFFECT...OR AT MOST GLANCE THE OUTER BANKS /INVOF HSE/
   THROUGH 22Z...WITH THE REST OF THE LINE REMAINING E OF THE COAST.
   
   MEANWHILE...A SECOND BAND OF LOW-TOPPED CONVECTION...WHICH HAS BEEN
   DEVOID OF LIGHTNING PRODUCTION...MAY STILL POSE A THREAT FOR
   DAMAGING WINDS GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF SWLY LOW LEVEL WINDS /50-60 KT
   AT 0.5-1 KM AGL PER ERN NC WSR-88D VADS/.  THIS BAND OF SHOWERS
   EXTENDED SWD FROM FAR SERN VA THROUGH ERN NC /APPROACHING EWN/ AND
   HAD MOVED E OF ILM...WHERE A 42 KT WIND GUST WAS OBSERVED WITH THE
   PASSAGE OF THIS CONVECTION.  THIS LOW-TOPPED ACTIVITY WAS BEING
   MAINTAINED BY STRONG FORCING FOR ASCENT/STEEPER MIDLEVEL LAPSE RATES
   ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE NEGATIVELY-TILTED UPPER TROUGH. 
   PASSAGE OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE TO MARK THE WRN EXTENT OF THE
   SEVERE WEATHER THREAT.
   
   ..PETERS.. 12/27/2011
   
   
   ATTN...WFO...AKQ...MHX...
   
   LAT...LON   34247734 34797709 35567703 36287668 36547634 36567552
               36057517 35157510 34797548 34177639 34247734