LEVEL 3 (OUT OF 5) RISK INTRODUCED FOR SUNDAY… The Storm Prediction Center has included much of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern Georgia in their Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk valid for Sunday, April 19. Inland areas of south Alabama are involved in the Level 3 (out of 5) risk, while coastal areas are currently involved in the Level 2 risk. Unlike the last severe weather event we had on Easter Sunday, the overall setup will be a bit different this time. The event this weekend will likely be in the form of a mesoscale convective system, which could mean the primary concern will be widespread damaging winds, capable of knocking down trees across the region. There will be at least some tornado risk involved in this as well.
WHY LEVEL 3 FOR SUNDAY NOW… SPC is advising this system will likely be a mesoscale convective system (MCS) that moves from west to east across our area. The main concern in the MCS will be damaging winds and embedded tornadoes. SPC also highlights the potential for supercell development that would further increase our tornado risk locally, but that idea is less certain at this point than the overall setup pointing to a mesoscale convective system. Confidence in the overall setup warrants a Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced risk, largely driven by the risk of damaging winds. We’ll get another convective outlook overnight that could change, upgrade, or modify this.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – SUNDAY… This is eerily similar to last week, but this is now applicable for Sunday, April 19 to Monday, April 20. 2PM on Sunday to 2AM on Monday looks to be the timeframe when strong to severe storms will be MOST likely to happen across south Alabama and northwest Florida. 5PM to 10PM Sunday will be the core risk time.
TORNADO WARNING POLICY… Any time there is an active tornado warning in effect for southwest Alabama or northwest Florida, we provide uninterrupted, live video coverage on Facebook Live and in the RedZone Weather app. Our detailed coverage commitment is outlined at redzoneweather.com/coverage. We are proud to cover all parts of Escambia (AL), Covington, Monroe, Conecuh, Baldwin, Mobile, Clarke, Washington, Butler, Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties. If you live in any locale in those counties, be sure to tune into our coverage whenever there is an active tornado warning!
APP ALERTS… Now is the time, long before we get to this severe weather potential, to set up the RedZone Weather app on your smartphone! redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you can download the iOS or Android version of the app. Once you have the app downloaded to your device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner of the app), then tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I’ll have more updates for you in the RedZone Weather app in the hours and in the days ahead. Have a nice Thursday afternoon!
