WWUS20 KWNS 192350 SEL8 SPC WW 192350 ARZ000-OKZ000-200500- URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 88 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 655 PM CDT MON MAR 19 2012 THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS EASTERN OKLAHOMA EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY NIGHT FROM 655 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT. TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 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 50 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS TO 40 MILES SOUTH OF MCALESTER OKLAHOMA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8). 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 85...WW 86...WW 87... DISCUSSION...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN FORMING IN THE WARM SECTOR ACROSS EASTERN OK...WHERE STRONG VERTICAL SHEAR AND SUFFICIENT CAPE ARE PRESENT. THEREFORE...HAVE UPGRADED THE ONGOING SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TO A TORNADO WATCH FOR THIS REGION. AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 1.5 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 22035. ...HART