959 ACUS11 KWNS 211844 SWOMCD SPC MCD 211842 MOZ000-ILZ000-212100- SPC MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0471 FOR SERN MO / SRN IL... CONCERNING...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 136... THUNDERSTORMS INCREASING FROM NEAR STL SWWD TO JUST N OF UNO. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THREAT INCREASING. TORNADO THREAT MAY ALSO INCREASE NEAR LOW CENTER INTO CENTRAL IL. UPGRADE TO TORNADO WW MAY BE REQUIRED. LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS LOW NOW JUST N OF STL...WITH WAVY COLD FRONT EXTENDING SWWD INTO N CENTRAL AR. WITH TEMPERATURES NOW IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOW 80S AND DEWPOINTS IN THE UPPER 60S... SIGNIFICANT DESTABILIZATION CONTINUES ACROSS MUCH OF WW AREA WHERE SURFACE-BASED CAPE IS NOW 2000 TO 3000 J/KG. ALTHOUGH BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW WITHIN WARM SECTOR REMAINS VEERED RESULTING IN RELATIVELY WEAK SURFACE CONVERGENCE AND LOW-LEVEL SHEAR...LINE OF STORMS CONTINUES TO SLOWLY INCREASE. WITH MODERATE LOW-LEVEL WSWLY FLOW AND 70 KTS AT MID-LEVELS ACCORDING TO BLM PROFILER...KINEMATIC FIELD REMAINS FAVORABLE FOR SUPERCELLS AND BOWS / LEWPS. ALTHOUGH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL APPEAR TO REMAIN THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT...STRONGER LOW- LEVEL SHEAR EXISTS ACROSS NRN PORTIONS OF WW WHERE SURFACE WINDS ARE MORE BACKED NEAR LOW / WARM FRONT SUGGESTING THE HIGHEST TORNADO THREAT LIKELY EXISTS ACROSS THIS REGION. ..GOSS.. 04/21/02