ELEVATED RISK OF FLASH FLOODING THROUGH SATURDAY… High rain chances over the next few days will cause the risk of flash flooding to be fairly high across much of south Alabama and northwest Florida. We have already had some spots pick up approximately 6 inches of rainfall in the last few hours. Thanks to Gretchen Brown (Navarre, FL) and Toby Hallett (Pace, FL) for reporting their rain amounts over the last few hours: 5.7″ in Navarre and 5.75″ in Pace. More rain tonight into tomorrow will only add to the growing risk of flash flooding.
TORNADO RISK NOW LOWER, BUT NOT ZERO… The overall tornado risk across south Alabama and northwest Florida is now much lower than it was earlier today. We have been very fortunate in that we have not had a tornado warning locally, so far, with this event. We encourage everyone to have a way to get urgent weather warnings tonight before you go to sleep, just in case we happen to have a rogue warning or two. I don’t really expect that at this point, but it IS a small possibility. Tonight is NOT a night for you to stay up and worry, but it is a night for you to have a way to get warnings. If we happen to have a tornado warning in the hours ahead, I would almost guarantee it would happen in parts of Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia (AL), Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, or Walton counties.
WHAT TO EXPECT – OVERNIGHT INTO THURSDAY… In short, more heavy rain at times. A brief tornado or two cannot completely be ruled out. Flash flooding will be a concern overnight. Please keep tabs on the radar, especially if you have to be out and about driving in the early morning hours. The greatest rain chance will happen in areas closer to the immediate coast. More rain and storms will be possible throughout the day on Thursday and on Friday. Rain chances will begin to lessen somewhat on Saturday.
I will have ongoing updates throughout the night being posted in the RedZone Weather app. Have a nice Wednesday evening!