URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 783
   STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   930 AM CST WED DEC 18 2002
   
   THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
   
   EXTREME WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS                           
   EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS                             
   SOUTHWEST...CENTRAL...AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI                      
    
   EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 930 AM UNTIL
   300 PM CST.
   
   TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
   TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 55 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST
   OF A LINE FROM 25 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF MONETT MISSOURI TO 35
   MILES NORTHWEST OF QUINCY ILLINOIS.
   
   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 782...
   
   DISCUSSION...SEVERAL SHORT LINES OF CONVECTION HAVE FORMED ACROSS
   CENTRAL/NE MO.  12Z SGF SOUNDING SHOWS NO CAP AND 1500 J/KG CAPE
   ONCE SURFACE TEMPERATURES WARM TO THE LOWER 60S...THUS ADDITIONAL
   STORMS COULD FORM ACROSS SW/CENTRAL MO IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS ALONG
   AND E OF AN EWD MOVING COLD FRONT.  THOUGH LOW-LEVEL FLOW HAS
   VEERED SOME THIS MORNING...INSTABILITY AND VERTICAL SHEAR REMAIN
   FAVORABLE FOR SUPERCELLS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES. 
   OTHERWISE...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH
   EARLY-MID AFTERNOON. 
   
   
   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 24045.
   
   
   ...THOMPSON