ZCZC SPCPWOSPC ALL WOUS40 KWNS 201657 ALZ000-KYZ000-MSZ000-TNZ000-210200-
PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1057 AM CST THU FEB 20 2014
...A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EPISODE IS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY, TENNESSEE VALLEY INTO LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...
The NWS Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK is forecasting the development of widespread damaging winds and a few tornadoes over parts of the lower Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, into the lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf States this afternoon and tonight.
The areas most likely to experience this activity include:
Northwest Alabama Western and central Kentucky Northern Mississippi Western and middle Tennessee
Elsewhere, severe storms are also possible from the Ohio Valley to central Gulf Coast.
A storm system near Kansas City as of late morning will strengthen rapidly while moving toward Wisconsin this evening, as a cold front sweeps eastward across Missouri and Arkansas this afternoon. Along and ahead of the cold front, or more bands of severe thunderstorms are expected to develop by mid afternoon, initially along a line from Saint Louis to Texarkana. Storms will then spread eastward across the Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi Valleys through tonight.
Widespread damaging thunderstorm winds are expected as storms evolve into a squall line by this evening and continue into the overnight hours. A few tornadoes will also be possible with storms embedded in or ahead of the squall line, mainly this afternoon into early tonight.
State and local emergency managers are monitoring this developing situation. Those in the threatened area are urged to review severe weather safety rules and to listen to radio, television, and NOAA Weather Radio for possible watches, warnings, and statements later today.