Tornado Watch Issued

Tornado watch just issued through 5pm this evening for the areas highlighted below.  Strong straight line winds will still be the most widespread issue but any kink in the line may produce a quick spin up.  

See more details below..

SEL4

   URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 24
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   1040 AM EST FRI FEB 21 2014

   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

   * TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
     DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
     DELAWARE
     CENTRAL AND EASTERN MARYLAND
     NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
     CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA
     COASTAL WATERS

   * EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 1040 AM UNTIL
     500 PM EST.

   * PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
     SEVERAL TORNADOES POSSIBLE
     NUMEROUS DAMAGING WIND GUSTS LIKELY WITH A FEW SIGNIFICANT GUSTS
       TO 75 MPH POSSIBLE

   THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 75 STATUTE
   MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF
   ROANOKE RAPIDS NORTH CAROLINA TO 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF DOVER
   DELAWARE.  FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
   ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).

   PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

   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.

   &&

   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 22...WW 23...

   DISCUSSION...PRE-FRONTAL TSTMS/SQLN NOW IN S CNTRL VA EXPECTED
   ACCELERATE ENEWD THROUGH LATER TODAY WHILE DEVELOPING NWD IN
   RESPONSE TO BOTH SFC HEATING AND APPROACH OF SECONDARY UPR VORT NOW
   PIVOTING NE ACROSS THE UPR OH VLY. ASSOCIATED DESTABILIZATION AND
   STRENGTHENING OF WIND FIELD SUGGEST LIKELIHOOD FOR EMBEDDED
   LEWPS/SMALL BOWS WITH A RISK FOR DMGG WIND AND...ESPECIALLY OVER SE
   VA...NE NC...AND THE DELMARVA PENINSULA...TORNADOES.

   AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
   SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 1 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND
   GUSTS TO 65 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 400.
   MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 22055.