LOWER RISK LOCALLY; HIGHER LEVEL 4 (OUT OF 5) RISK TO OUR NORTH… The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded much of northwest Alabama, north Mississippi, and southwestern Tennessee into the Level 4 (out of 5) significant severe weather risk zone valid for tomorrow (Thursday), March 25, 2021. This outlook upgrade highlights the area where strong tornadoes may be most likely to happen, however, please keep in mind that with the specific severe weather setup tomorrow, tornadoes will be possible even outside of the highest risk zone. The good news is our local area in south Alabama and northwest Florida is now involved in a LOWER risk zone! A few tornadoes, gusty winds, hail, and flash flooding will be possible locally, but the coverage and intensity of storms probably won’t be as bad as the severe storms to our north tomorrow.

UPDATED: SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – THURSDAY… In addition to being in a lower risk zone across the board in our local area, there is more good news to report. It looks like the threat of severe storms locally will exist predominantly in the daytime hours instead of overnight. Noon on Thursday to 8PM will be the 8 hour window when strong to severe storms, including a tornado or two, may happen in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida. Heavy rain, gusty winds, and cloud-to-ground lightning will be possible at times Thursday evening into the overnight hours of early Friday morning.

LEVEL 4 (OUT OF 5) SIGNIFICANT RISK… The greatest risk of strong tornadoes is expected to happen farther inland across parts of central and northwest Alabama on Thursday. None of south Alabama or northwest Florida are currently involved in the higher Level 4 risk as of 5:30AM Wednesday. The Level 4, significant risk zone is in place for the following places: Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Decatur, Cullman, Hamilton, Jasper, Double Springs, Fayette, Aliceville, Gordo, Reform, Livingston, York, Eutaw, Forkland, Demopolis, Russellville, Moulton, Athens, Ardmore, and surrounding areas in northwest Alabama. Jackson (MS), Tupelo, Columbus (MS), Starkville, Oxford (MS), and Memphis (TN) are also involved in the Level 4 risk zone.

LEVEL 3 (OUT OF 5) RISK ZONE… The Level 3 risk zone now includes many places in northeast Alabama and extends southward into the far northern part of our local area. A Level 3 risk means that numerous severe storms, including tornadoes, will be possible. The following communities locally are involved in the Level 3 risk: Thomasville, Campbell, Silas, Toxey, Butler, and Sweet Water in west Alabama. The Level 3 risk also includes Linden, Selma, Clanton, Calera, Talladega, Gadsden, Anniston, Fort Payne, Boaz, Centre, Mt. Cheaha, and surrounding areas.

LEVEL 2 (OUT OF 5) RISK ZONE… Farther south in our local area, a Level 2 (out of 5) risk is in place for many communities. This is the zone where scattered severe storms may happen, potentially including a tornado or two. This Level 2 risk includes: Mobile, Prichard, Wilmer, Mt. Vernon, Citronelle, Saraland, Coden, Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Bay Minette, Loxley, Silverhill, Robertsdale, Tensaw, Atmore, Brewton, Flomaton, Poarch, Walnut Hill, Bratt, Century, Jay, Molino, Andalusia, Red Level, Evergreen, Castleberry, Owassa, Repton, Greenville, Georgiana, Monroeville, Beatrice, Uriah, Perdue Hill, Frisco City, Excel, Grove Hill, Jackson, Whatley, Coffeeville, Millry, Chatom, Yarbo, Deer Park, McIntosh, Wagerville, Leroy, and surrounding areas. We also note that Montgomery, Auburn, Alexander City, Troy, Luverne, Hayneville, Prattville, Wetumpka, Tuskegee, Valley, Lanett, and Roanoke are involved in the Level 2 risk.

LEVEL 1 (OUT OF 5) LOW-END RISK… If you are in the following communities, the severe weather risk on Thursday is now much more marginal and low risk. There is still a very small chance for a tornado or damaging winds, but confidence is now higher that these communities probably will just have some rain at times: Pensacola, Milton, Pace, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Florala, Opp, Destin, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Baker, Mary Esther, Laurel Hill, Elba, Enterprise, Geneva, Daleville, Eufaula, and Phenix City.

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.

My next video will be posted by 7:15AM this morning. I will have updates posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. Have a good Wednesday!