TORNADO WATCH

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 950
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
550 AM EST THU DEC 11 2008

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF A LARGE PART OF NORTHERN FLORIDA PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN GEORGIA COASTAL WATERS

EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY MORNING FROM 550 AM UNTIL NOON EST.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 80 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF
AVON PARK FLORIDA TO 40 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF VIDALIA GEORGIA.
FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH
OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0).

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 SQUALL LINE OVER NERN GULF OF MEXICO DRIVEN BY
DEEPENING LOW SURFACE AND ALOFT WILL SWEEP E AND NE ACROSS THE WATCH
AREA THIS MORNING. IN ADDITION TO STRONG/DAMAGING WINDS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE SQUALL LINE...EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES
ARE ALSO A THREAT.