TORNADO WATCH FOR WEST ALABAMA UNTIL 11PM… The Storm Prediction Center has extended the Tornado Watch valid for 3 counties in west Alabama until 11PM CDT. All parts of Washington, Clarke, and Choctaw counties are included. The tornado watch has been cancelled for Mobile and Baldwin counties. Small, scattered showers are happening across west Alabama with the heavier rain and storms happening across parts of Washington, Choctaw, Clarke, and Marengo counties. Overnight, there will be a low-end risk of a few stronger or marginally severe storms across west Alabama. This means the chance of a tornado warning is not zero. It’s not a high risk, but there is a low-end risk for any given spot WEST of the Alabama River.
SATURDAY FORECAST: MORE STORMS… We will maintain a chance of showers and thunderstorms across the area through Saturday afternoon when a cold front moves by our region from west to east. SPC has noted that there is a Level 1 (out of 5) marginal severe weather risk in place for Saturday across the entirety of south Alabama and northwest Florida. Rain and storms will end from west to east on Saturday evening as a line of storms moves through.
OLGA IN THE GULF… Tropical Storm Olga continues to race northward at about 20 miles per hour over the west-central Gulf of Mexico. The system is expected to become post-tropical in the hours ahead as it makes landfall overnight along the Louisiana coast. Olga is a contributing factor to why we have had so much rain today across the western half of our local area.
FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR WEST ALABAMA… Parts of Clarke, Washington, and Choctaw counties remain under a Flash Flood Warning on this Friday evening. 2-4” of rain in total has fallen today near Chatom, Silver Cross, Gilbertown, Coffeeville, Morvin, Campbell, and Topton. If you encounter a water-covered roadway overnight, please do not attempt to drive through it. “Turn around, don’t drown” is the phrase.