SEL7
   
   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 277
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   355 PM EDT MON MAY 24 2004
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          WESTERN CONNECTICUT
          DELAWARE
          WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
          CENTRAL AND EASTERN MARYLAND
          NORTHERN NEW JERSEY
          CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW YORK INCLUDING WESTERN LONG ISLAND
          EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
          SOUTHERN VERMONT
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 355 PM UNTIL 900
   PM EDT.
   
   HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 85 STATUTE MILES
   EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 50 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF GLENS
   FALLS NEW YORK TO 40 MILES WEST OF WILMINGTON DELAWARE.
   
   REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
   FAVORABLE FOR 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. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
   TORNADOES.
   
   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REPLACES
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 271...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
   NUMBER 274. WATCH NUMBER 271 274 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER 355
   PM EDT. CONTINUE...WW 272...WW 273...WW 275...WW 276...
   
   DISCUSSION...MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROF HAS ENHANCED CONVECTIONS
   ACROSS CENTRAL NY AND PA AHEAD OF ADVANCING COLD FRONT ACROSS WRN NY
   AND PA.  AIR MASS IS VERY UNSTABLE WITH LIFTED INDICES BETWEEN -4
   AND -7 AND SBCAPE TO 3000 J/KG.  MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE
   STEEPENING TO 7C/KM INDICATING THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE HAIL AND
   DAMAGING WINDS.
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 2.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 450. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 25040.
   
   
   ...MCCARTHY