543 PM EDT THU JUL 31 2008

…SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR 40 MPH WINDS IN PICKENS…FLOYD… CHATTOOGA…GORDON…GILMER…UNION… TOWNS…FANNIN AND MURRAY COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM EDT…

AT 542 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM LEWNER TO LYERLY… MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE…FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AS THEY MOVE ACROSS PICKENS…FLOYD… CHATTOOGA…GORDON…GILMER…UNION… TOWNS…FANNIN AND MURRAY COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE SUGAR VALLEY… NICKELSVILLE…LOVING… CHATTOOGAVILLE… SUMMERVILLE… RESACA…MINERAL BLUFF…MENLO…BLUE RIDGE… …EVERETT SPRINGS AND MORGANTON.

BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.

LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEMS INDICATE FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD STAY INDOORS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY