PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1100 AM CST THU 21 JAN 1999

...OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDING A FEW INTENSE TORNADOES ARE EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW INTENSE TORNADOES OVER PARTS OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND SOUTH CENTRAL STATES LATER TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT.

THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE:
MUCH OF ARKANSAS
NORTHERN LOUISIANA
SOUTHWESTERN TENNESSEE
NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI

STRONG LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY WINDS HAVE PUSHED WARM MOIST AIR FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO NORTHWARD ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY REGION THIS MORNING. TO THE NORTHWEST...MUCH COLDER AIR FROM CANADA IS BEGINNING TO MOVE SOUTHEASTWARD BEHIND A STRONG COLD FRONT. LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...THUNDERSTORMS WILL RAPIDLY INTENSIFY ALONG OR JUST AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT OVER WESTERN ARKANSAS AND WESTERN LOUISIANA WITH ACTIVITY MOVING ESTWARD TOWARD THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY OVERNIGHT. WINDS IN THE UPPER PORTIONS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL HAVE SPEEDS NEAR 100 MILES AN HOUR CREATING FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR A FEW VERY DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES. IN ADDITION...COLD DRY AIR ALOFT WILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD AREAS OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES, AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO AND TELEVISION AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES, WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY.

JOSEPH ROGASH
LEAD FORECASTER, STORM PREDICTION CENTER