The Storm Prediction Center has issued a TORNADO watch in effect until 11pm for the following counties in Iowa, Appanoose, Davis, Wapello, Wayne, Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott, Van Buren and Washington.

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 45
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
335 PM CDT SUN APR 4 2010

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

SOUTHEAST IOWA
WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS
EXTREME EASTERN KANSAS
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MISSOURI

EFFECTIVE THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 335 PM UNTIL 1100 PM CDT.

TORNADOES…HAIL TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 70 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTH OF PEORIA ILLINOIS TO 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF OLATHE KANSAS.

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…THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY RAPIDLY THIS AFTERNOON ALONG A WEAK FRONTAL ZONE EXTENDING FROM NORTHEAST KS…ACROSS NORTHERN MO…INTO WESTERN IL. RAPID RETURN OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND STRONG HEATING SOUTH OF THE FRONT WILL DESTABILIZE REGION…WHILE STRONG SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL WINDS ENHANCE VERTICAL SHEAR. SUPERCELLS ARE EXPECTED EARLY WITH A RISK OF LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. DURING THEN EVENING…ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY CONGEAL INTO A SQUALL LINE AND TRACK EASTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN IL WITH A RISK OF HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.