ZCZC SPCPWOSPC ALL WOUS40 KWNS 101243 MOZ000-ILZ000-ARZ000-INZ000-MIZ000-OHZ000-OKZ000-101700- PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 608 AM CST SAT 10 MAY 2003 ...OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDING A FEW STRONG TORNADOES...WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL IS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND LOWER OH VALLEY TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW STRONG TORNADOES AND WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS OVER PARTS OF MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI AND LOWER OHIO VALLEYS LATER TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE: MISSOURI ILLINOIS NORTHERN ARKANSAS INDIANA SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN WESTERN OHIO EASTERN OKLAHOMA SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DAY FROM THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY EAST AND SOUTHEASTWARD TO THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION. A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS THIS MORNING WILL MOVE NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD NORTHERN MISSOURI BY LATE AFTERNOON. THIS LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEEPEN RAPIDLY THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT FROM NORTHEAST MISSOURI TO WISCONSIN AS A POWERFUL UPPER LEVEL JET STREAK EJECTS NORTHEASTWARD FROM THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES TO THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. RICH LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE IS IN PLACE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND MISSISSIPPI VALLEY IN ADVANCE OF THE DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE CENTER...RESULTING IN A VERY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IN THE WAKE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING ACROSS MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS...ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP IN ADVANCE OF THE STRENGTHENING SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER. THE STORMS IN ADVANCE OF THE LOW WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG TORNADOES... ESPECIALLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY TONIGHT FROM NORTHEAST MISSOURI INTO CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS. ADDITIONALLY... THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A COLD FRONT SOUTH OF THE SURFACE LOW WILL DEVELOP INTO A SQUALL LINE LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT...WITH WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI AND OHIO VALLEYS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO AND TELEVISION AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY. RICH THOMPSON LEAD FORECASTER, STORM PREDICTION CENTER