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   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 261
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   555 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2005
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          SOUTHERN KANSAS
          WESTERN OKLAHOMA
          EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY MORNING FROM 555 PM
   UNTIL 100 AM CDT.
   
   HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 80
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 85
   STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 40 MILES WEST NORTHWEST
   OF EMPORIA KANSAS TO 85 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF CLINTON OKLAHOMA. 
   FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH
   OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).
   
   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 257...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
   NUMBER 258. WATCH NUMBER 257 258 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER 555
   PM CDT. CONTINUE...WW 259...WW 260...
   
   DISCUSSION...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING
   ALONG AND W OF SLOW MOVING FRONTAL ZONE ACROSS SRN KS INTO TX
   PANHANDLE.  WITH A FEED OF VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS COUPLED
   WITH 40 KT OF DEEP LAYER SHEAR...A FEW SUPERCELLS ARE LIKELY
   ENHANCING THREAT PARTICULARLY OF VERY LARGE HAIL.
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 2.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 70
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 24030.
   
   
   ...HALES