SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNTIL 5:00 p.m.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Southern Illinois
Central and Southern Indiana
Western Kentucky
Southeast Missouri
Western Ohio

* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 1205 PM
until 600 PM EST.

* Primary threats include…
Widespread damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
A tornado or two possible

SUMMARY…A fast-moving line of thunderstorms will sweep across the
watch area this afternoon, posing a risk of locally damaging wind
gusts. Some risk of hail and a tornado or two also exists.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 80
statute miles east and west of a line from 45 miles north northeast
of Muncie IN to 45 miles south of Cape Girardeau MO. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

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.