SEVERE WEATHER RISK FOR SUNDAY… Due to the growing potential for tornadoes and damaging winds on Sunday, the Storm Prediction Center now includes much of east Alabama in the Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced risk zone for our severe weather potential on Sunday. SPC has a higher Level 4 risk in place for parts of northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and western Mississippi for Saturday (not pictured in the attached image as this is the Sunday outlook). It is critical that you have multiple ways to receive urgent weather warnings this weekend! ALL of south Alabama and northwest Florida remain in the Level 2 risk zone. Instead of a morning forecast video, I will be bringing you a live video update a bit later today. Our severe weather risk will be greatest from 4AM to 4PM on Sunday as a line or broken line of thunderstorms moves through. Let’s look at a few details…
LEVEL 3 RISK FOR EAST ALABAMA… The severe weather risk for Sunday has really ramped up across eastern parts of Alabama. The Storm Prediction Center includes the following areas in their Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk zone where numerous severe storms are expected: Auburn, Opelika, Eufaula, Smiths Station, Phenix City, Union Springs, Eclectic, Lake Martin, Alexander City, Valley, Lanett, Talladega, Roanoke, Gadsden, Anniston, Centre, and Fort Payne. We note much of Georgia, eastern Tennessee, and parts of the Carolinas are also included in this higher, Level 3 risk zone. The Atlanta metro and all surrounding areas are included.
LEVEL 2 RISK FOR ALL LOCAL AREAS… The entirety of south Alabama and Northwest Florida remains included in the Level 2 (out of 5) slight risk zone, where scattered instances of severe weather may happen. Brewton, Atmore, Evergreen, Monroeville, Uriah, Beatrice, Coffeeville, Thomasville, Grove Hill, Jackson, Leroy, Chatom, Millry, Fruitdale, Mobile, Bayou La Batre, Citronelle, Saraland, Prichard, Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Bay Minette, Loxley, Pensacola, Molino, Century, Walnut Hill, Jay, Berrydale, Milton, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Andalusia, Opp, Florala, Greenville, Georgiana, and McKenzie are included.
LEVEL 2 RISK FOR OTHER ALABAMA CITIES… Much of southeast Alabama and nearly all of west Alabama is included in the Level 2 risk zone as well. Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Decatur, Montgomery, Dothan, Troy, Geneva, Enterprise, Elba, Ozark, Camden, Selma, Demopolis, Prattville, Clanton, Oneonta, Cullman, Russellville, and Jasper are all included.
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ON SUNDAY MORNING… The most likely scenario for Sunday morning is that a potent line of strong to severe thunderstorms will move by from west to east. These storms will be capable of producing tornadoes and damaging straight line wind gusts, in addition to small hail, heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding, and lots of lightning. The big question mark at this point is whether we’ll have supercell thunderstorms forming out ahead of the main line of storms. If that happens and we do get supercell development, that would cause the tornado threat to become more elevated.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING… The 12 hour window when severe weather will be most likely remains from 4AM to 4PM on Sunday with the core window being from 7AM to 2PM. We note storms could happen before or after this timeframe, but that is the MOST likely window. Please keep in mind that is the “severe weather timing” and not RAIN timing. Rain is likely intermittently long before that timeframe.
SET UP YOUR APP ALERTS… Don’t let your guard down this weekend until after our severe weather risk passes on Sunday. We all need to have away to get the urgent weather warnings, especially Sunday morning when the main risk happens. I’ll have updates as needed this weekend in the RedZone Weather app. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (bottom right corner of app) and then read the alert descriptions so you can pick the ones you want to receive. All of our alerts are currently handcrafted by me. Unlike other sources, we won’t send you a push notification unless there is something you need to know.
Let me know if you have specific questions. I’ll have a special video update a bit later today. Have a great Friday!