NICE TUESDAY; SLIGHTLY HIGHER SEVERE WEATHER RISK P.M. WEDNESDAY… The Storm Prediction Center had upgraded the eastern part of our area into their Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk valid for Wednesday. Rain and thunderstorms are set to return to our local area tomorrow (Wednesday) as a cold front approaches from the northwest. While most areas locally will have some rain and perhaps some thunder, any strong to severe storms will be more of the anomaly than the overall trend. Gusty winds and hail are the main concerns in the stronger storms on Wednesday as the overall tornado risk remains low (not zero, but low!). Before we get to the active weather on Wednesday, we have a nice Tuesday on tap. High temperatures will peak in the mid-80s today under increasingly cloudy skies by the time we get into the evening hours. The good news regarding tomorrow’s severe weather potential is that it will be a low-end risk AND storms will move out of our area to the east by late tomorrow night meaning there should be no overnight severe weather issues. An extended streak of sunshine starts on Thursday! Let’s look at your forecast details.
INCREASING CLOUDINESS TODAY… Skies will be increasingly cloudy as the day continues on this Tuesday. I expect all of the rain to hold off until we get into Wednesday morning, meaning today will be dry.
WHAT TO EXPECT WEDNESDAY… For MOST across our region, this will be a good rain event with half an inch to one inch of rainfall being likely in most spots. There will be isolated higher and lower amounts, but most of us will fall into the 0.5”-1” range. There could be isolated strong to marginally severe thunderstorms. The greater risk of severe weather will likely be a bit farther to our east across the eastern part of Alabama and western Georgia.
LEVEL 2 (OUT OF 5) RISK… Inland areas on the eastern side of our region are now involved in the Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk valid for Wednesday. Locally, this includes parts of Escambia (AL), Covington, Conecuh, Monroe, and Butler counties. Much of east and southeast Alabama is also involved in this risk zone. This includes places like Andalusia, Opp, Red Level, Damascus, Evergreen, Brooklyn, Castleberry, Camden, Greenville, Georgiana, McKenzie, Dothan, Enterprise, Elba, Geneva, Samson, Daleville, Abbeville, Eufaula, Troy, Union Springs, Montgomery, Prattville, Selma, Hayneville, Wetumpka, Auburn, Opelika, Valley, Tuskegee, Alexander City, Lake Martin, Clanton, Maplesville, Roanoke, Heflin, Centre, Talladega, Sylacauga, Calera, Hoover, Leeds, Anniston, Gadsden, and surrounding areas.
LEVEL 1, LOW-END RISK… Much of our area remains involved in the Level 1 (out of 5) low-end severe weather risk zone. This includes places like Mobile, Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Crestview, Baker, Laurel Hill, Milton, Pace, Navarre, Jay, Whiting Field, Berrydale, Century, Molino, Warrington, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley, Fairhope, Silverhill, Robertsdale, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Bay Minette, Wilmer, Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Citronelle, Mt. Vernon, Chatom, Wagerville, Leroy, Jackson, Grove Hill, Thomasville, Gilbertown, Silas, Butler, Sweet Water, Dixons Mills, and surrounding areas.
WEDNESDAY – SEVERE WEATHER TIMING… 10AM to 10PM will be the twelve hour window when strong to severe storms are most likely to happen across south Alabama and northwest Florida. The core risk timeframe will be from 11AM to 7PM, meaning most (if not all) of the stronger storms should happen before sunset. After sunset, the atmosphere should quickly begin to stabilize across our region as instability values plummet behind the advancing cold front. We should be able to give everyone across our region an “all clear” before 11PM or perhaps much earlier in the evening!
MAIN CONCERNS: GUSTY WINDS & HAIL… The main concerns in the stronger thunderstorms on Wednesday will be gusty winds that could down a few trees across the region. Large hail up to the size of a quarter will also be possible. The overall tornado risk remains low. This means the tornado risk is NOT zero, but it does remain low. One or two tornadoes cannot be completely ruled out in an environment like this. As always, if we happen to have at tornado warning across our local area, we will provide uninterrupted live video coverage to bring you the very latest.
SUNSHINE RETURNS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY… Full sunshine is likely on Thursday and Friday with high temperatures in the low-80s. Overnight lows will be in the mid-50s.
HOT WEEKEND AHEAD… Temperatures will be at their highest point locally so far in the year 2020 as we get into the upcoming weekend. High temperatures on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday will be in the low-90s. Some spots may actually hit the mid-90s on Sunday! This could be near record-setting heat for the early part of the month of May. Overnight lows will be in the mid- to upper-60s. Full sunshine is expected each day.
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… redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you can download the free RedZone Weather app. We post brief updates throughout each day in the app, keeping you up-to-date about the latest happenings in weather across south Alabama and northwest Florida. Once you have the free app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) then tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
See all the details in your Tuesday #rzw forecast video. Have a great day!