STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE FRIDAY MORNING; RAIN LIKELY TODAY… We’re kicking off a wet, unsettled, mild weather pattern today with scattered showers and thunderstorms across south Alabama and northwest Florida. There will be a few strong to severe storms rolling across southern Mississippi overnight that could move into west Alabama early on Friday morning. There is a Level 2 (out of 5) slight risk zone in place for several west Alabama locales. Rain will likely not end after the severe weather risk on Friday morning, meaning flash flooding will be possible across the area this weekend. Rain chances will remain high into the new year as well. Plenty to discuss in the weather department this morning…

SHOWERS & FEW STORMS TODAY… If you’ve got to be outside today, keep tabs on the radar as rain will be likely throughout the day! High temperatures will peak right around the 70 degree mark. Thunderstorms will become possible after the noon hour today. The severe weather risk, however, won’t kick off until the late evening hours.

SEVERE WEATHER RISK OVERNIGHT… The Storm Prediction Center has included much of west Alabama in their Level 2 (out of 5) slight risk zone valid overnight into Friday morning. Parts of Choctaw, Washington, and Mobile counties are included. Much of the remainder of the local area is involved in the low-end, Level 1 marginal risk zone, meaning severe storms could still happen but the overall chance is much lower. The main severe weather concern will happen due to a eastward-moving line of strong to severe thunderstorms that will most likely approach the Alabama-Mississippi state line early on Friday morning. 

POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER HAZARDS… Damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes will be possible, especially across west Alabama on Friday morning. The main risk will happen as the weakening line of thunderstorms approaches from the west, although there is a small chance of a few discrete storms out ahead of the main line that could also become severe.

SEVERE WEATHER TIMING… The severe weather risk will kick off in the early morning hours of Friday around 2AM. The line of storms will move across the region from west to east. The severe weather risk will end probably by 10AM on Friday. We note that rain will be falling long before and long after the severe weather risk.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH… 2-4” of rain will fall across our region over the next few days. Accordingly, the local National Weather Service offices have placed MANY Alabama and northwest Florida counties under a Flash Flood Watch. For southwest Alabama and northwest Florida: Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, Escambia (AL), Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, and Butler counties are included. Many more central Alabama counties are also under a Flash Flood Watch, including places near Montgomery, Auburn, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden, Alex City, Selma, Camden, and Hamilton. The next few days will be a big time rain event for much of the Deep South.

WET WEEKEND AHEAD… Rain chances will remain high on Saturday into Sunday as well as a deep plume of moisture continues to move into our area from the southwest. The clouds around will act as somewhat of a blanket, keeping temperatures mild/warm for this time of year. High temperatures will be near 70° with morning lows in the 50s/60s.

SHOWERS INTO THE NEW YEAR… Our unsettled weather pattern will extend into the early part of next week as rain chances remain unseasonably high. It’s too early to give specifics, but I would plan on having a poncho/rain jacket handy if you’re going to a New Year’s celebration.

APP… Be sure to download the RedZone Weather app if you haven’t already done so. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your smartphone and/or tablet, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize the alerts you’d like to receive straight from me. We’ll be sending a lot of Low-Level Alerts over the next few days.

See all the graphics and details in your Thursday #rzw forecast video… Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great day!