This is a special public statement from the Storm Prediction Center. They only issue those when it is a widespread major threat.
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PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0506 AM CDT SAT MAY 10 2008
…SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED FROM THE ARKLATEX AND MID SOUTH
REGION EASTWARD ACROSS THE GULF COAST STATES TODAY AND TONIGHT…
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW STRONG TORNADOES…WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WIND AND
VERY LARGE HAIL FROM THE ARKLATEX AND MID SOUTH REGION EASTWARD
ACROSS THE GULF COAST STATES TODAY AND TONIGHT.
THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ALABAMA
MUCH OF ARKANSAS
MUCH OF GEORGIA
FAR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY
NORTHERN LOUISIANA
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI
FAR EASTERN OKLAHOMA
WESTERN AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE
FAR EASTERN TEXAS
A STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS THE PLAINS
STATES THIS AFTERNOON…EMERGING INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
BY LATE TODAY AND CONTINUING ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION AND
GULF COAST STATES OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. A VERY MOIST AND
UNSTABLE AIR MASS IS ALREADY IN PLACE FROM TEXAS EASTWARD ALONG THE
GULF COAST…AND THIS UNSTABLE AIR WILL EXPAND NORTHWARD WITH TIME
AS LOW PRESSURE DEEPENS ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. WHILE
TORNADOES…DAMAGING WIND AND VERY LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE
ANYWHERE WITHIN THE MODERATE RISK AREA…THE GREATEST THREAT FOR
STRONG TORNADOES WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER CENTRAL
AND EASTERN ARKANSAS…NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN TENNESSEE.
IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF A FEW TORNADOES…WIDESPREAD DAMAGING
WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS ACROSS
MISSISSIPPI…ALABAMA…AND GEORGIA.
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.
