Stormy pattern to begin new week

After a soggy Saturday in which I picked up an inch of rain as of this posting, there will be a dry period for this morning followed by Thunderstorms in the afternoon. Some of these storms may reach severe limits. The chance of thunderstorms will continue through Tuesday. Highs will be in the mid 60's today and warming into the 70's tomorrow.

Update : 1:00 PM CDT

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 266...RESENT
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1155 AM CDT SUN APR 30 2006

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

NORTHERN ARKANSAS
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS
FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY
SOUTHERN AND EASTERN MISSOURI

EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY MORNING AND EVENING FROM 1155 AM UNTIL 700
PM 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 APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 120
STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTH OF
SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS TO 15 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF BATESVILLE
ARKANSAS. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

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...THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN NUMBER AND
INTENSITY THIS AFTERNOON OVER MUCH OF LOWER MO VALLEY/MID MS VALLEY
AS AIR MASS CONTINUES TO DESTABILIZE IN CYCLONIC FLOW AROUND IA LOW.
WHILE INSTABILITY WILL GENERALLY REMAIN MDT THE STEEP LAPSE RATES
AND FAVORABLE LOW AND MID LEVEL SHEAR WILL SUPPORT POTENTIAL OF
SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT. LARGER HAIL AND LOCAL DAMAGING WINDS WOULD
BE GREATEST ASSOCIATED WITH SUPERCELLS.

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 450. MEAN STORM
MOTION VECTOR 24030.


...HALES