TORNADOES & DAMAGING WINDS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON & EVENING…
EXPANDED LEVEL 3 RISK ZONE… The primary weather hazards on this Sunday will be tornadoes (with a few strong tornadoes being possible) and damaging straight line winds in the stronger storms. The Storm Prediction Center has expanded the Level 3 “enhanced risk” zone to include more of south & central Alabama and inland stretches of northwest Florida on this Sunday. Storms are most likely to happen between 1PM and 9PM with the core tornado risk being from 3PM to 7PM. Please have multiple ways to get urgent weather warnings today! One of the ways you can do this is by downloading the RedZone Weather app and setting up your customized alerts. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download, then tap the Alerts tab to customize alerts. Let’s talk details…
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING… 11AM to 9PM is the timeframe in which severe weather is possible across south Alabama and northwest Florida. 2PM to 8PM is the core timeframe when tornadoes will be most likely to happen. Scattered rain showers will increase in coverage this morning. Rain is likely this afternoon into this evening.
HAZARDS: EXPLAINING THE POTENTIAL… Multiple modes of severe weather are likely today. 1) I’ll be carefully monitoring radar trends early in the afternoon for signs of developing supercell thunderstorms well out ahead of the main line of thunderstorms that will pass by later this evening. These supercell storms could produce a few tornadoes, perhaps a few strong ones, IF they form. The supercell risk today is conditional, meaning there is a chance we may not have many discrete storms out ahead of the main line. 2) Damaging wind gusts will be likely in the squall line/QLCS that moves through our area later this evening. Tornadoes would also be possible in this feature. There is a chance that, instead of a classic squall line, a line of supercell thunderstorms sets up and progresses southward. This would greatly increase the chance of tornadoes.
LEVEL 3 RISK ZONE EXPANDED… For our local area in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida, the following communities are involved in the Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced risk zone where severe storms are MOST likely to happen: Greenville, Georgiana, Oaky Streak, Chapman, Forest Home, McKenzie, Andalusia, Opp, Gantt, Heath, Red Level, Carolina, Wing, Pleasant Home, Florala, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton, Poarch, Atmore, Appleton, Lyeffion, Evergreen, Castleberry, Lenox, Repton, Range, Belleville, Owassa, Monroeville, Beatrice, Uriah, Goodway, Perdue Hill, Tunnel Springs, Megargal, Mineola, Thomasville, Fulton, Grove Hill, Coffeeville, Jackson, Chatom, Millry, McIntosh, Calvert, Bay Minette, Perdido, Tensaw, Stockton, Jay, Century, and Bratt.
LEVEL 3 ALSO TO OUR EAST… Some locales just to our north and east are also included in the Level 3 risk area: Camden, Pine Hill, Pine Apple, Selma, Hayneville, Prattville, Montgomery, Alexander City, Wetumpka, Auburn, Valley, Lanett, Union Springs, Tuskegee, Phenix City, Troy, Luverne, Elba, Enterprise, Geneva, Samson, Dothan, Abbeville, Daleville, Eufaula, Smiths Station, Columbus (GA), Macon (GA), Albany (GA).
LEVEL 2 RISK FOR COASTAL AREAS… Coastal areas of Alabama and northwest Florida are involved in the Level 2 “slight” risk zone. This includes places like Mobile, Pensacola, Daphne, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Destin, Mary Esther, Crestview, Milton, Navarre, Molino, Loxley, Prichard, and Wilmer.
DON’T FALL INTO THE RISK ZONE TRAP… The Level 2 areas still have a severe weather risk. Please don’t fall into the trap of taking these risk zones at face value in that severe weather could happen ANYWHERE across our local area. The risk zones are just guidelines from the Storm Prediction Center suggesting where severe weather is MOST likely. We ALL have a severe weather risk today! Storms are most likely to occur on the eastern side of our region as outlined in the risk areas discussed above.
COVERAGE POLICY… redzoneweather.com/coverage outlines our highly detailed coverage commitment to south Alabama and northwest Florida. Anytime there is a tornado warning polygon in place for any part of our 12 county coverage area, we provide live streaming video coverage on Facebook and in the Live tab of the RedZone Weather app. Be sure to join us tomorrow if we have warnings!
APP ALERTS… redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download of our RedZone Weather app. Once you have the app downloaded to your phone or tablet, be sure to visit the Alerts tab and turn on the alerts you’d like to receive from me. If you like a LOT of alerts, be sure to turn on Low-Level Alerts. Most folks should turn ON the Medium-Level Alerts since we don’t send very many of those as they’re reserved for important bits of weather news.
COOLER, STABLE AIR MOVES IN LATE TONIGHT… All of the severe weather today is because of an advancing cold front that is moving toward our region from the north. After the passage of the cold front late tonight, cool, dry, stable air will filter into our local area. High temperatures Monday will drop into the 50s. Sunshine should return by Monday afternoon with Tuesday and Wednesday looking dry, cool, and sunny for now.
I’ll have updates throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. Let me know if you have specific questions. Have a good Sunday & stay safe!