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   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 731
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   535 PM CDT THU AUG 18 2005
   
   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
   
          WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
          NORTHEAST KANSAS
          NORTHERN MISSOURI
          EXTREME SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON FROM 535 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT 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 45
   STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 60 MILES WEST
   NORTHWEST OF TOPEKA KANSAS TO 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPRINGFIELD
   ILLINOIS.  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...CONTINUE...WW 730...
   
   DISCUSSION...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG
   AN AXIS FROM NORTHEAST KS INTO WEST-CENTRAL IL THIS EVENING.  STRONG
   INSTABILITY IN THIS AREA...ALONG WITH FAVORABLE DEEP LAYER VERTICAL
   SHEAR...WILL PROMOTE THE RISK OF SEVERE STORMS.  DAMAGING WINDS AND
   HAIL APPEAR TO BE THE MAIN THREATS.
   
   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 27030.
   
   
   ...HART