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WWUS9 KMKC 241641 SEL7 MKC WW 241628 ILZ000-INZ000-KYZ000-MOZ000-OHZ000-250000- URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 797 STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1128 AM CDT WED OCT 24 2001 THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN ILLINOIS INDIANA NORTHWEST KENTUCKY EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI NORTHWEST OHIO EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY MORNING AND EVENING FROM 1145 AM UNTIL 700 PM CDT. ...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION... DAMAGING TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER... THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS. THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 135 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 5 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF CARBONDALE ILLINOIS TO 55 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF FORT WAYNE INDIANA. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND 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. DISCUSSION...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT OVER MISSOURI INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS. CONVECTION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AS VERY STRONG UPPER TROUGH AND JET STREAM SURGE EASTWARD TOWARD THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. AIR MASS IN THE WARM SECTOR IS DESTABILIZING RAPIDLY AS DEW POINTS INCREASE NWD. LOW LEVEL SHEAR/HELICITY WILL ALSO INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AS THE 50-60 KT LOW LEVEL JET SPREADS INTO IL/IN AND WRN OH...ENHANCING POTENTIAL FOR TORNADIC SUPERCELLS...PRIMARILY AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. A SQUALL LINE WILL ALSO LIKELY DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT WITH AN ENHANCED THREAT FOR DAMAGING WINDS AS IT MOVES EWD. AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 3 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 23040.