RARE LEVEL 4 RISK FOR N.W. ALABAMA

LONG TRACK TORNADOES LIKELY TO OUR NORTH TODAY; LOW-END RISK FOR S.W. ALABAMA… There is a significant chance of a few long track, strong tornadoes and severe weather today across northwest Alabama, north Mississippi, and western Tennessee where a rare Level 4 (out of 5) severe weather risk is in place. Locally in south Alabama and northwest Florida, the severe weather risk tonight will be LOW but not zero for parts of west Alabama. Isolated rain showers are likely today across the local area as high temperatures again soar into the low-80s. The low-end risk of severe weather locally will happen this evening into early Sunday. We’ll spend much of the day with our eyes trained to the north where a significant round of severe weather is expected. That’s your summary, here are the details…

FOR LOCAL AREA: WARM, MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY W/ A FEW SHOWERS… It’s important for me to stress that there is a high likelihood that the severe weather issues will happen well to the north of our primary coverage area in south Alabama and northwest Florida. Showers are possible locally today, and a few strong to severe storms may happen this evening across west Alabama. Storms will weaken as they move from west to east across our area tonight. I’ll be monitoring radar trends carefully and bringing you the latest in the RedZone Weather app.

RARE LEVEL 4 RISK FOR NORTH MISSISSIPPI AND NW ALABAMA… The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded parts of northwest Alabama, north Mississippi, and southern Tennessee into a rare Level 4 (out of 5) risk zone. This is the zone where significant, long-track tornadoes will be possible. In Alabama, the following communities are included in the higher Level 4 risk zone where strong tornadoes could happen: Florence, Muscle Shoals, Russellville, Hamilton, and Killen. This includes parts of Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, and Lamar counties in northwest Alabama. This Level 4 risk zone means that several long track, potentially significant, strong tornadoes will be possible. If you get a tornado warning today, you’d better do something about it and GET SHELTERED. Anytime you have a Level 4 risk, it’s a big deal.

LEVEL 3 ENHANCED RISK IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA… Supercell thunderstorms capable of producing a strong tornado or two are most likely to happen in the Level 4 risk zone, but there is a chance that there could be a few tornadoes in the Level 3 risk zone as well. The Level 3 “enhanced” risk zone includes much of the remainder of northwest Alabama, aka places like Huntsville, Decatur, Double Springs, Moulton, Jasper, Fayette, and Aliceville. We also note that Nashville (TN), Memphis (TN), and Jackson (MS) are included in this Level 3 risk zone. If you or someone you know is traveling to these areas, they need to be aware of a significant risk of severe weather that will happen later today!

LEVEL 2 RISK FOR NORTH & WEST ALABAMA… Much of the rest of north Alabama and west Alabama is included in the Level 2 slight risk zone where scattered instances of severe weather could happen. This includes places like Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Cullman, Oneonta, Boaz, Hoover, Centreville, Eutaw, Demopolis, and Livingston.

LEVEL 1, LOW-END RISK FOR A FEW LOCAL AREAS… Much of Mobile, Clarke, Monroe, and Washington counties in southwest Alabama are included in the low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) marginal risk zone. This means that the atmosphere will be conditionally supportive of a few strong storms, but widespread severe weather remains unlikely. The risk in these areas will mainly come from the potential for a few damaging wind gusts in the stronger storms that move by later this evening (after 8PM). The tornado risk in our local area is very low, but it’s not zero.

STORM TIMING FOR LOCAL AREA… If any strong storms happen in southwest Alabama or northwest Florida, they will almost certainly happen between 6PM and 1AM on Sunday. That is the 7 hour window when storms are most likely to occur locally. Again, the Storm Prediction Center is outlining parts of Clarke, Monroe, Wilcox, Washington, and Choctaw counties in the low-end risk zone. For areas along and EAST of Interstate 65, the severe weather risk remains very, very low.

CLOUDS CLEAR OUT SUNDAY; COOLER TEMPS… Showers and thunderstorms will exit to our east early Sunday morning. Clouds will likely clear out to the east by Sunday afternoon. High temperatures on Sunday will be around 68° in most spots as cool, dry, stable air filters in behind the advancing cold front.

DRIER, COOLER MONDAY & TUESDAY… Partly cloudy skies and more seasonal temperatures are expected for the start of the upcoming week. Highs Monday and Tuesday will be around 69° each day with overnight lows near 49°.

MORE RAIN FOR WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY… Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected on Wednesday into Thursday as another cold front comes knocking on our doorstep from the northwest. It’s too early to know whether severe weather will be a possibility. We’ll keep you posted.

3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PENSACOLA TORNADO… Today marks 3 years since an EF3 tornado ripped through the northwest part of the Pensacola, Florida metro area. Many homes and several businesses endured extensive damage. RedZone Weather covered this tornado warning and the many others that happened on that night. See our coverage here: https://youtu.be/1P3rOFrjiVA?t=12330

APP ALERTS FOR SOUTH AL & NW FL… If you’re in south Alabama or northwest Florida, one way to get warnings is by downloading our free RedZone Weather app. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your phone or tablet, visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner), then tap the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize the alerts you would like to receive.

Let me know if you have specific questions… Have a great weekend!