SEL5
   
   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 685
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   300 AM CDT MON AUG 2 2004
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA
          SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY MORNING FROM 300 AM UNTIL 800 AM CDT.
   
   HAIL TO 2 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 70 STATUTE MILES
   EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 15 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF FARGO
   NORTH DAKOTA TO 30 MILES SOUTH OF SAINT CLOUD MINNESOTA.
   
   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...CONTINUE...WW 683...WW 684...
   
   DISCUSSION...ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE INTENSIFYING ACROSS EXTREME
   W CENTRAL MN AND SE ND.  THIS CONVECTION IS FORMING IN ADVANCE OF A
   WEAK MID LEVEL SPEED MAX...AND IS DEVELOPING CLOSER TO THE
   SURFACE-BASED INSTABILITY IN MN WITH TIME.  PRESENT INDICATIONS ARE
   THAT THE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE/INTENSITY
   WHILE MOVING INTO AN AREA WITH GREATER INSTABILITY...AND THE
   COMBINATION OF VERTICAL SHEAR AND INSTABILITY WILL SUPPORT A THREAT
   FOR LARGE HAIL WITH EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS.  WITHIN THE NEXT FEW
   HOURS...CONVECTION MAY BECOME BASED CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE SURFACE TO
   SUPPORT A DAMAGING WIND THREAT AS WELL ACROSS CENTRAL MN.
   
   AVIATION...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 500. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 31030.
   
   
   ...THOMPSON