280 WWUS20 KWNS 221912 SEL5 SPC WW 221912 ARZ000-MOZ000-MSZ000-TNZ000-230300- URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 615 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 215 PM CDT Sat Aug 22 2026 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Northern into Central and Eastern Arkansas Missouri Bootheel Northern Mississippi Western Tennessee * Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 215 PM until 1000 PM CDT. * Primary threats include... Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 75 mph possible Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible SUMMARY...Scattered thunderstorms are forecast to develop and intensify this afternoon and pose a risk for severe gusts and perhaps an isolated threat for large hail. As additional storms develop and clusters of storms evolve, the risk for severe gusts will probably increase during the late afternoon through the early evening as a linear cluster moves southeast. Severe gusts 60 to 75 mph are possible with this activity. The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 90 statute miles north and south of a line from 10 miles north of Russellville AR to 30 miles north northeast of Tupelo MS. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU5). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for 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. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes. && OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 614... AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 32025. ...Smith