LOW-END RISK OF STRONG STORMS LATER TODAY; RAIN LIKELY TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY... Showers and thunderstorms will become increasingly likely later today. Some of the storms could be on the strong or marginally severe side later this evening. While the core of the severe weather risk will happen to our west today across southern Mississippi and eastern Louisiana, we can’t rule out a few tornadoes or damaging wind gusts locally across southwest Alabama or northwest Florida. The Storm Prediction Center maintains much of our area in their Level 1 (out of 5) marginal severe weather risk. This means that a few storms may briefly ramp up to severe levels. Flash flooding could also become an issue later today across west Alabama IF storms train over the same areas for multiple hours, which is a possibility.
LEVEL 1 RISK FOR MUCH OF OUR LOCAL AREA THIS EVENING INTO TONIGHT… Basically all of us across south Alabama and northwest Florida have some risk of seeing a strong to severe storm over the next 24 hours. Much of Monroe, Conecuh, Escambia (AL), and Santa Rosa counties are included, with ALL parts of Washington, Clarke, Baldwin, Mobile, and Escambia (FL) counties included in the Level 1 risk zone. This risk extends northward into west-central Alabama into places like Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Centreville, Marion, Livingston, Camden, and Sweet Water.
LEVEL 2 RISK TO OUR WEST… The core risk today will happen across southern parts of Mississippi and much of eastern and central Louisiana where SPC has the slightly higher Level 2 (out of 5) slight risk in place. This includes places like Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Biloxi, New Orleans, Slidell, Baton Rouge, and McComb. If you’re traveling west into these areas today, please be aware of the slightly higher tornado risk.
SEVERE WEATHER & RAIN TIMING… The core of this low-end severe weather potential will happen from 3PM to 9PM across our area. There could be a few storms as early as 1PM and a few storms well after 9PM tonight, potentially extending into early Friday. Rain will be increasingly likely as we get into the overnight hours.
MAIN CONCERNS: TORNADOES & DAMAGING WIND GUSTS… The hazards we will be most concerned about with this event will be the tornado potential and the chance of stronger storms that could produce damaging straight line wind gusts. Flash flooding could also become an issue, primarily across west Alabama in areas west of the Alabama River.
RAIN ENDS LATE IN THE DAY ON FRIDAY… Rain will linger long after the initial line of storms passes through your location. I expect much of the day on Friday to be wet. Rain will clear out by the late evening hours. High temperatures on Friday will be in the upper-60s.
COOLER, DRIER WEEKEND… The upcoming weekend looks quite nice! High temperatures will be in the low-60s with plenty of sunshine on both Saturday and Sunday. Overnight lows will be quite cold on Saturday night into Sunday. Some spots may briefly dip below the freezing mark on Sunday morning!
SET UP YOUR APP ALERTS… Many updates will be posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Be sure to visit the Alerts tab (bottom right corner) and tap the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize the alerts you’d like to receive from me. If you like a lot of info, be sure to toggle ON Low-Level Alerts.
See all the graphics and details in your Thursday #rzw forecast video. Have a great day!
