MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0155
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0855 PM CST MON FEB 24 2003
   
   AREAS AFFECTED...ERN AR...MO BOOTHEEL...WRN TN...NWRN MS
   
   CONCERNING...HEAVY SNOW AND SLEET 
   
   VALID 250255Z - 250800Z
   
   MODERATE TO HEAVY SLEET/SNOW EXPECTED TO DEVELOP EASTWARD INTO
   PARTS OF EASTERN AR...WESTERN TN...AND NORTHWEST MS DURING THE
   NEXT FEW HOURS.  1 IN/HR SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FROM
   NORTHEAST AR INTO NORTHWEST TN.
   
   RADAR LOOPS CONTINUE TO SHOW LARGE AREA OF PRECIPITATION OVER
   CENTRAL/WESTERN AR...EXTENDING WESTWARD INTO NORTH TX.	THE
   LEADING EDGE OF THE PRECIP IS MOVING AROUND 30 KNOTS AND SHOULD
   CROSS THE MS RIVER AROUND 0430Z.  00Z OBSERVED AND MODEL FORECAST
   SOUNDINGS SUGGEST SUBSTANTIAL LOW LEVEL DRY AIR...WHICH MAY DELAY
   THE ONSET OF PRECIP REACHING THE SURFACE.  HOWEVER...RATES SHOULD
   INCREASE STEADILY THROUGH MIDNIGHT.  ALTHOUGH LIGHTNING DATA HAS
   NOT SHOWN ANY STRIKES...RADAR ECHOES APPEAR CONVECTIVE FROM LIT
   SOUTHWARD.  THIS SUGGESTS PERIOD OF HEAVY SLEET WILL BE THE
   PREDOMINANT MODE ROUGHLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM LIT-JKL...WITH
   POCKETS OF FREEZING RAIN ALSO POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF
   THE DISCUSSION AREA.  MODERATE-HEAVY SNOW APPEARS LIKELY FROM
   LIT-JKL NORTHWARD...WITH LOCAL RATES APPROACHING 1 IN/HR.
   
   ..HART.. 02/25/2003
   
   
   35839182 36528965 36278838 34958874 33809233 34459290