SPC MD 268

MD 0268 CONCERNING SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH LIKELY FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA INTO CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA Mesoscale Discussion 0268 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0740 AM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026 Areas affected...Parts of central Virginia into central North Carolina Concerning...Severe potential...Watch likely Valid 161240Z - 161445Z Probability of Watch Issuance...80 percent SUMMARY...The potential for damaging wind gusts and tornadoes will gradually increase into parts of central North Carolina and Virginia through the morning into this afternoon. A watch issuance is likely. DISCUSSION...A remnant QLCS is emerging east of the Appalachians, where it is showing some early signs of re-intensification. Farther east, a disorganized band of thunderstorms is also evolving over parts of western VA into NC. While overall convective evolution is not clear, these storms will continue spreading eastward into a destabilizing air mass (around 500-1000 J/kg MLCAPE). Despite the somewhat limited buoyancy, strong low/deep-layer shear characterized by clockwise-curved low-level hodographs (see GSO 12Z sounding) will favor a mix of organized line segments and supercells, with a risk of damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes (some potentially strong). A watch issuance is likely for this activity. ..Weinman/Hart.. 03/16/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product... ATTN...WFO...AKQ...LWX...RAH...ILM...RNK...CAE...GSP... LAT...LON 35018062 36058067 37938001 38327941 38387851 38157795 37767769 37037785 35917834 35137889 34707944 34798025 35018062 MOST PROBABLE PEAK TORNADO INTENSITY...100-130 MPH MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST...65-80 MPH MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE...UP TO 1.25 IN Read more