SEL8
   
   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 578
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   1140 AM CDT SAT JUL 2 2005
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          CENTRAL LOUISIANA
          EASTERN TEXAS
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS SATURDAY MORNING AND EVENING FROM 1140 AM UNTIL 600
   PM CDT.
   
   HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 65
   STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES SOUTH
   SOUTHWEST OF TYLER TEXAS TO 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALEXANDRIA
   LOUISIANA.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
   ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
   
   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.
   
   DISCUSSION...MCS HAS BECOME MORE ORGANIZED ALONG ITS LEADING EDGE
   MOVING INTO E-CENTRAL TX WITH A BOWING SEGMENT NOW EVIDENT. 
   ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INCREASING IN COVERAGE AND SEVERITY AS
   IT SHIFTS SEWD ALONG AN INSTABILITY GRADIENT INTO CENTRAL LA AND IS
   FED BY A VERY MOIST/UNSTABLE AIR MASS. WIND DAMAGE IS EXPECTED TO
   BE PRIMARY RISK...THOUGH ISOLATED LARGE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL
   RATES ARE ADDITIONAL HAZARDS WITH THESE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON.
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 29035.
   
   
   ...EVANS