URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 493
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
120 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of 
  Extreme northeast Illinois
  Northern Indiana
  Southeast Lower Michigan
  Northwest Ohio
  Lake Erie
  Lake Huron

* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 120 PM until
  800 PM EDT.

* Primary threats include...
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 65 mph possible
  Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...Bands of thunderstorms are forming along and immediately
ahead of a cold front, and storm coverage is expected to increase
through the afternoon.  The more intense storms will be capable of
producing damaging winds up to 65 mph and isolated large hail of
1-1.5 inches in diameter.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 55
statute miles north and south of a line from 20 miles south
southeast of Mount Clemens MI to 45 miles north of Danville IL. For
a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU3).

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 492...

AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 55 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean storm motion vector
31025.

...Thompson