SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE NEW YEAR’S EVE… Severe storms, including the potential for a few tornadoes and damaging winds, will be possible across parts of Alabama and northwest Florida on New Year’s Eve Thursday potentially extending into New Year’s Day on Friday. It seems fitting for the year 2020 to end on a note like this with a severe weather outlook posted 5 days out from now to end the year. There remains considerable uncertainty as to exactly when and precisely where storms will fire up, but the Storm Prediction Center has introduced a severe weather risk for Wednesday into Thursday.
LEVEL 2 (OUT OF 5) RISK WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, INTO FRIDAY… The first risk of severe weather will set up to our west across parts of Louisiana and Mississippi on Wednesday. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has basically the southern half of Louisiana and part of southern Mississippi involved in a Level 2 (out of 5) risk for Wednesday into early Thursday. Then, on Thursday, SPC shifts the risk eastward into our local area in south Alabama and northwest Florida. It should be noted that these advance risk zones 4-5 days out are not necessarily indicative of storm strength, but rather confidence in the idea of thunderstorms happening that could be severe. Further outlook refinements are expected in the days ahead. Please check back for updates this week.
MAIN CONCERNS: DAMAGING WIND GUSTS & TORNADOES… Just like our last weather system that moved by on Wednesday into Thursday LAST week, the main hazards THIS week will likely be damaging wind gusts capable of knocking down a few trees and tornadoes. Details concerning storm strength will become more clear in the days ahead. The most likely scenario as of now looks to be a strong to severe line of storms with the potential for discrete, isolated cells out ahead of the main line. It is important to make sure you have a way to get warnings.
UNCERTAINTY CONCERNING TIMING SPECIFICS… It is too early to give a specific timeframe for when severe storms will be most likely to happen across our region. Right now, the latest model guidance points to Thursday afternoon into the evening hours for when storms may be most likely to happen, but I would caution that is highly subject to change over the next few days. New Year’s Eve festivities could be affected by rain and storms Thursday evening, unfortunately.
APP ALERTS… 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 full forecast video posted by 7:15AM tomorrow morning. See you then!