SCATTERED STORMS TODAY; FEW TORNADOES POSSIBLE IN NORTH ALABAMA TODAY… While widespread severe thunderstorms are not expected across the southern half of Alabama or northwest Florida today, there could be a few strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado or two across the northern tier of Alabama later today. The risk of tornadoes will be greatest along and northwest of Interstate 59. Locally, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected locally at times. High temperatures will approach the 90 degree mark. We’re also tracking two tropical waves that may become our next tropical storms in the Atlantic Basin. Let’s look at all of your forecast details.

LEVEL 2 (OUT OF 5) SEVERE WEATHER RISK TO OUR NORTH… A few tornadoes may become possible later today across north Alabama. The remnant circulation of what was Hurricane Laura is now moving northeast. This circulation will act as a catalyst for thunderstorms to rotate later today. The risk is a Level 2 (out of 5) tornado risk today for areas north of Interstate 59. This includes Huntsville, Cullman, Jasper, Fayette, Hamilton, Double Springs, Decatur, Moulton, Muscle Shoals, Florence, Russellville, and Scottsboro. We note a low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) marginal severe weather risk is in place for Birmingham, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa, Livingston, and surrounding areas. No part of the southern half of Alabama or northwest Florida is involved in the formal severe weather risk zone today.

WATCHING TWO TROPICAL WAVES IN THE ATLANTIC… We continue to monitor two tropical waves in the Atlantic Ocean.The National Hurricane Center says there is a 20-30% chance that two, separate tropical storm may form near the Leeward Islands early next week. Regardless of development, any potential impacts to the continental U.S. are still over a week away, and there is no way to know whether U.S. impacts will happen at this point. Something to watch over the next few days. We’ll bring you the latest in the RedZone Weather app.

DECAYING LAURA TO OUR NORTH… The National Hurricane Center issued its final advisory last evening on Tropical Depression Laura, formerly the powerful category 4 hurricane that made landfall in southwest Louisiana early Thursday morning. Laura will continue to produce heavy rain with an ongoing isolated tornado risk into the Mid-Atlantic region on Saturday.

SCATTERED STORMS THIS WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK… Consistency remains the word in terms of our local forecast. Scattered thunderstorms will be likely over the next few days, mainly in the afternoon and evening hours. Not everyone will have rain each day, but some spots could have heavy rain at times. Loud thunder and cloud-to-ground lightning will also be possible in the stronger storms. High temperatures will be near 90 over the next several days with morning lows in the mid-70s.

APP… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. 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 (lower right corner) and 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 Friday #rzw forecast video… Have a great weekend!

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TWO TROPICAL WAVES MAY BECOME TROPICAL STORMS EARLY NEXT WEEK… There is a 20-30% chance that two, distinct tropical waves may become tropical storms over the next 3-5 days. The National Hurricane Center has introduced these low-end probabilities today, just as we watch Laura decay into a tropical storm over southern Arkansas. Unfortunately, hurricane season is nowhere close to being over just yet and we still probably have several storms to contend with in the Atlantic Basin (that includes the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea). It is impossible to know in advance where storms will move, but it is important to be aware of the potential for more potent storms over the next several weeks. A few Thursday evening forecast notes below.

TOO EARLY FOR ANY TYPE OF SPECIFICS… No one, and I truly mean not one soul on the planet, can tell you if these two tropical waves will formally develop OR if they will become strong hurricanes and move close to the Gulf of Mexico. It is too early in the process for any info like that. What I CAN tell you is that atmospheric conditions will probably be favorable early next week for the development of another tropical storm or two somewhere near the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico, perhaps.

MORE STORMS PROBABLY AHEAD; PEAK OF HURRICANE SEASON SOON… September is usually the month in each hurricane season when we have the most in the way of tropical storms and hurricanes. This activity is certainly not unprecedented or abnormal in any way. It certainly IS a bit abnormal that we’ve had 13 named tropical storms this year and we haven’t reached the halfway mark yet. The Atlantic Hurricane Season peaks on September 11 each year. We will, unfortunately, probably have more in the way of storms in the weeks ahead that will develop in the Atlantic Basin. We’ll keep you posted every step of the way in the RedZone Weather app.

SEASONAL, WARM, HUMID FRIDAY AHEAD… Locally, another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected on Friday, predominantly in the afternoon and evening hours. There will be a 60-70% chance of storms. Widespread severe weather is not expected in south Alabama or northwest Florida, and the tornado risk locally remains very, very low if not zero in most spots. Contrast this with a higher tornado risk in place to our north across the northern half of the state (see next paragraph). High temperatures will be in the low-90s across the region.

TORNADO RISK IN NORTH ALABAMA ON FRIDAY… The northern half of Alabama will have at least some risk of a few tornadoes on Friday due to the decaying circulation of Hurricane Laura, which has weakened to tropical storm status this afternoon. Huntsville, Decatur, Cullman, Hamilton, Fayette, Double Springs, Muscle Shoals, Boaz, and surrounding areas are involved in the Level 2 (out of 5) tornado risk. If you’re reading this in the northern half of the state of Alabama, northern Mississippi, Tennesee, or Kentucky, have a way to get urgent weather warnings Friday just in case a tornado warning is needed for your specific location.

APP… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. 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 (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.

I will have your next detailed RedZone Weather forecast video posted by 7:15AM tomorrow (Friday) morning. In the meantime, plenty more updates will be posted in the RedZone Weather app until then. Have a good Thursday evening!

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SCATTERED STORMS STREAMING NORTH… Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue to stream to the north across the region this evening. Heavy rain is happening near Lyeffion, Castleberry, Evergreen, and Gosport. Storms will continue to pop up over the next several hours.

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