LEVEL 2 SEVERE WEATHER RISK FOR SATURDAY… The Storm Prediction Center has included ALL of our local area in south Alabama and northwest Florida in their Level 2 (out of 5) slight risk zone valid for Saturday. This means that scattered severe thunderstorms could happen, including a few tornadoes and scattered instances of damaging straight line winds. Isolated showers could happen as early as this evening, with rain becoming more likely in the overnight hours into Saturday morning. Temperatures are forecast to remain well above our seasonal norms for this time of year over the next few days before a strong cold front moves by on Tuesday. Let’s talk details…

FEW SHOWERS LATER TODAY… Much of our local area should remain dry throughout the day on this Friday. High temperatures will soar into the 70s by 3PM today. A few showers may develop near coastal areas and over west Alabama before the end of the day. Rain will become more likely in the overnight hours. We note that some models show a complex of more consistent, heavy rain moving by in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ON SATURDAY… Isolated tornadoes and damaging wind gusts in the stronger storms will be our main weather concerns on Saturday morning into the early afternoon hours. There is a chance we could have a few isolated supercell thunderstorms that become severe during the late morning hours of Saturday.

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP TRAVEL… The Alabama Crimson Tide is scheduled to play the Georgia Bulldogs inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 3PM CST/4PM EST on Saturday, December 1. If you’re planning to wake up on Saturday morning and drive to Atlanta from our local area, please be aware that a few strong thunderstorms may be possible. You’ll need to have a way to check the radar and receive urgent weather warnings! An automobile is a TERRIBLE place to be during a tornado warning. We encourage you to get out of cars and get into a well built, site-built structure away from windows and doors.

STORM TIMING… Isolated showers could happen as early as this (Friday) afternoon across west Alabama. More consistent rain may happen Friday evening into the overnight hours of Saturday morning. The severe weather risk, however, will extend from 4AM to 4PM on Saturday, with the greatest risk being from 9AM to 2PM. That is when the greatest combination of severe weather ingredients will be in place across our region.

POTENTIAL HAZARDS… Isolated tornadoes and damaging straight line winds will be the main concerns in the stronger storms. Some weather models are depicting the potential for a few supercell thunderstorms late Saturday morning. Any supercells that become discrete and isolated will have the greatest tornado potential. Definitely something to monitor as we get closer to this potential event. The risk of large hail is low, but not zero. The hail risk will happen in any supercells that can become isolated. Flash flooding impacts look to be negligible at this time.

APP… Be sure to download the RedZone Weather app (redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download) to keep up with the storms this weekend. Once you have the app downloaded, visit the Alerts tab (bottom right corner) and tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you’d like to receive straight from me.

Let me know if you have any questions! Have a good Friday. Be sure to check back with me this evening for the latest updates.

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ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE SATURDAY… Isolated tornadoes and damaging straight line winds will be possible on Saturday, particularly in the morning and early afternoon hours, across south Alabama and northwest Florida. The atmosphere will become increasingly unstable late Friday night into Saturday as a warm front lifts northward from the Gulf of Mexico. This will set the stage for the severe weather potential Saturday morning. You’ll need to have a way to receive warnings before you go to sleep Friday night and in place through the daytime hours of Saturday.

SLIGHT RISK FOR ALL LOCAL AREAS… The southern half of Alabama and all of northwest Florida is included in the Storm Prediction Center’s Level 2 (out of 5), standard slight risk zone. This means that the entirety of the local area is included. Mobile, Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Crestview, Florala, Andalusia, Opp, Greenville, Georgiana, Luverne, Geneva, Dothan, Troy, Eufaula, Enterprise, Evergreen, Brewton, Atmore, Flomaton, Poarch, Huxford, Uriah, Monroeville, Beatrice, Thomasville, Camden, Sweet Water, Butler, Toxey, Silas, Coffeeville, Grove Hill, Jackson, Chatom, Millry, Fruitdale, Wagerville, Citronelle, Mt. Vernon, Saraland, Wilmer, Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Farihope, Foley, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Bay Minette, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Silverhill, Elberta, Ft. Morgan, Perdido Key, Molino, Century, Walnut Hill, Milton, Jay, Berrydale, Navarre, Chumuckla, Allentown, Holt, Harold, Mary Esther, and Niceville are ALL included.

TORNADOES & WIND MAIN CONCERNS… Isolated tornadoes and damaging straight line winds will be the main concerns in the stronger storms. Some weather models are depicting the potential for a few supercell thunderstorms late Saturday morning. Any supercells that become discrete and isolated will have the greatest tornado potential. Definitely something to monitor as we get closer to this potential event. The risk of large hail is low, but not zero. The hail risk will happen in any supercells that can become isolated. Flash flooding impacts look to be negligible at this time.

TIMING OF THE STORMS… A few rain showers may happen across west Alabama as early as this evening. More consistent rain will happen Friday evening into early Saturday morning. The severe weather risk will extend from approximately 4AM on Saturday to 4PM Saturday evening. The core of the severe weather risk will happen when we have the greatest combination of ingredients in place for storm formation, likely between 9AM and 2PM.

APP ALERTS… If you haven’t already, we strongly encourage you to set up customized app alerts in the RedZone Weather app. Once you have the app downloaded, visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize the handcrafted alerts you’d like to receive straight from me.

I’ll have an in-depth video update posted by 7:15AM on Friday in the RedZone Weather app and on Facebook. Let me know if you have specific questions. See you then!

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