TORNADO WATCH TILL 5PM; SEVERE LINE OF STORMS IN WEST ALABAMA… The main line of strong to severe thunderstorms has reached west Alabama as of Noon. A Tornado Watch continues for basically the entire local area until 5PM. Multiple severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect for parts of Clarke, Choctaw, and Washington counties at the time this video is being produced (12:05 CST 1/19/2018). There will be a slight risk of a few isolated tornadoes and damaging wind gusts across the region over the next few hours as this line of storms moves east. We also note that there have been numerous showers and small storms out ahead of the main line of storms. These storms, so far, have not been severe.
BE READY FOR WARNINGS… We have had several tornado warnings already this morning across central Alabama, including one that included Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama campus. No damage has been reported, but a few of these storms in central Alabama continue to be tornadic in nature. The tornadoes today will likely be weak, brief tornadoes, but as I always caution… If ANY tornado (weak or strong) affects YOU, it’s a big deal. Please seek shelter if a tornado warning is issued for your area. Also, please take the severe thunderstorm warnings seriously today. There have been reports of trees down to the west of this line of storms.
HEAVY RAIN AT TIMES THIS AFTERNOON… Intermittent periods of heavy rain are expected over the next few hours as this line of storms continues moving east. While flash flooding impacts should be mitigated during this event by the fast forward motion of the system, if you encounter a water-covered roadway, please do NOT drive over it. Too many people in our nation perish due to flash flooding each year.
COLD AIR COMING… Temperatures will nosedive this evening after the passage of this line of showers and storms. We’re headed into the 30s by daybreak on Sunday with a very cold night ahead for Monday when overnight lows will be in the 20s.
APP ALERTS… Be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app (redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download) in your respective (iOS & Android) app store. I’ll have plenty of updates throughout the afternoon and evening as we track the storms moving in from the west. 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. I’ll be sending quite a few Low-Level Alerts today.
NEXT UPDATES… MANY updates have been and will be posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. I will be on Facebook LIVE and in the live streaming video tab of the RZW app as needed when tornado warnings are required for our area. Let me know if you have specific questions! Have a good afternoon and evening!