URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 494
   STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   911 PM MDT THU JUL 4 2002
   
   THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
   
      NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL MONTANA                            
   
   EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING FROM 930 PM UNTIL
   200 AM MDT.
   
   HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70
   MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.
   
   THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 75 STATUTE MILES
   EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 55 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF GLENDIVE
   MONTANA TO 60 MILES NORTH OF WOLF POINT MONTANA.
   
   REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
   FAVORABLE FOR 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.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
   TORNADOES.
   
   OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REPLACES
   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 493.  WATCH NUMBER 493 WILL NOT BE
   IN EFFECT AFTER 930 PM MDT.  
   
   DISCUSSION...SEVERE STORMS OVER SWRN GARFIELD AND SWRN VALLEY
   COUNTIES IN MT ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ENEWD...WHILE NEW
   CONVECTION APPEARS TO BE DEVELOPING DOWNSTREAM FROM THESE STORMS. 
   AIR MASS BECOMES INCREASINGLY MOIST/UNSTABLE TOWARD THE ND BORDER
   WHERE MLCAPE REACHES 1500-2000 J/KG.  MODERATE SWLY FLOW ALOFT WILL
   MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT DEEP LAYER SHEAR TO ENHANCE CONTINUING THREAT
   FOR SEVERE STORMS TONIGHT. 
   
   
   AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT
   TO 2 INCHES.  EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60
   KNOTS.  A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500.  MEAN STORM
   MOTION VECTOR 24035.
   
   
   ...WEISS