STRONG STORMS LOCALLY THIS EVENING; TORNADO OUTBREAK TO OUR NORTH TODAY… Severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, will be possible today across much of the Deep South. The greater tornado risk will likely set up just to our north across parts of north Alabama, north Mississippi, and Tennessee today. Those are the areas involved in a Level 5 (out of 5) severe weather risk valid for today into tonight. Strong (EF2+) tornadoes will be possible across parts of north Alabama today. If you are traveling into areas near Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Muscle Shoals, or surrounding areas, please be aware of the potential for significant tornadoes. Locally, in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida, our tornado risk is NOT zero, but it is lower. Thunderstorms are most likely to develop in the afternoon and evening hours. Storms will also be possible this evening before 9PM. There could be some rumbles of thunder overnight in addition to heavy downpours of rain, but the severe weather risk will likely be much more limited by that point. As a course of least regret, I would recommend everyone have a way to get warnings today and tonight before you go to sleep just in case a tornado warning is needed for your specific location. As always, if tornado warnings are needed in our area today, we will start our uninterrupted live video coverage to bring you the latest info.

LEVEL 5 (OUT OF 5) SIGNIFICANT RISK TO OUR NORTH TODAY… The Storm Prediction Center has added a Level 5 (out of 5) significant severe weather risk today for parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. We just had a Level 5 risk last week for part of the Deep South, but these risks are comparatively QUITE rare. A Level 5 risk means that widespread, intense thunderstorms are expected. Generally, Level 5 risk days are reserved for only when there is very high confidence that a high impact tornado outbreak is expected. That is the expectation today for parts of northwest Alabama, unfortunately. Long track, potentially strong tornadoes will be possible today, especially in the higher Level 5 risk zone. Tornadoes will be possible in the lower risk zones as well. The Level 5 risk includes areas like Decatur, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Jasper, Double Springs, Hamilton, Vernon, Fayette, Aliceville, Gordo, Reform, Athens, Ardmore, Moulton, and surrounding areas in northwest Alabama. Tupelo, Starkville, and Columbus are included in this high risk zone in Mississippi.

LEVEL 3 & LEVEL 4 RISK ZONES… Much of central and north Alabama remains involved in the significant Levels 3 and 4 risk zones this morning. Numerous to widespread severe storms will be possible in these areas, including tornadoes that could be strong and/or long-tracked. These zones include areas near Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden, Anniston, Talladega, Rockford, Clanton, Selma, Livingston, Demopolis, Linden, Camden, Butler, Oneonta, Centreville, Leeds, Fort Payne, Huntsville, and surrounding areas. We note that parts of Clarke and Washington counties are involved in the Level 3 risk zone locally, including areas near Thomasville, Coffeeville, Millry, and surrounding areas.

LOCALLY, STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING… Much of southwest Alabama and some of northwest Florida remains involved in the Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk. This means that scattered instances of severe storms will be possible, including a tornado or two. Most of us across our local area will simply have rain at times with occasional thunder, but there could be a few stronger storms later today capable of producing tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, hail, and flash flooding.

RAIN & STORMS LIKELY AT TIMES FRIDAY… Occasional rain and thunderstorms will continue into Friday. The severe weather risk across the entirety of the Deep South will be much lower, although we note SPC maintains parts of Alabama in a low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) marginal severe weather risk valid for Friday. Right now, no part of this Level 1 risk zone on Friday includes our local area in southwest Alabama or northwest Florida. High temperatures on Friday will be near 80 degrees in most spots locally.

FEW SHOWERS & STORMS ON SATURDAY… Rain chances have lessened somewhat for Saturday, although it looks like there may be a few showers and storms around in the afternoon hours. High temperatures on Saturday will be in the low- to mid-80s in what will likely be our warmest day of the next 7 days. Any thunderstorms on Saturday will probably be well below severe limits.

ONE MORE ROUND OF HEAVIER RAIN ON SUNDAY… The last day featuring high rain chances in the short term will be Sunday when heavy rain will be possible across the region at times. Widespread severe weather seems unlikely, but flash flooding may be a concern if rain and storms train over the same areas. High temperatures on Sunday will again approach the 80 degree mark.

SUNSHINE RETURNS MONDAY INTO TUESDAY… We finally get a break from the storms, the rain, and the clouds on Monday into Tuesday as an area of high pressure builds in. High temperatures will be in the mid-70s on Monday, followed by warmer temperatures near 80 on Tuesday afternoon. More rain may become possible toward the middle and latter parts of the upcoming week.

APP ALERTS… Be sure to download our free RedZone Weather app if you haven’t done so already. redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you can download the app for your iOS or Android device. Once you have the app downloaded, be sure to visit the Alerts tab in the lower right corner of the app to select the specific notifications you would like to receive straight from me.

I will have many updates over the next several hours in the RedZone Weather app. If a tornado warning becomes required for any of our local counties later today, be sure to join me on Facebook Live for the very latest. Have a nice Thursday!