INCREASING CLOUDINESS TODAY; FEW STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE THURSDAY… Clouds will increase in coverage on this Wednesday ahead of the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms tomorrow (Thursday) evening. All of our local area in south Alabama and northwest Florida remains involved in the severe weather risk zones on Thursday as defined by the Storm Prediction Center. The greatest tornado risk is slated to happen in areas to our north and west, although a tornado or two along with the potential for damaging wind gusts will happen locally as well, mainly in areas along and west of the Alabama River. High temperatures today and tomorrow will be in the low- to mid-70s. Much cooler air arrives on Friday ahead of a nice weekend. All of the severe weather details are below.
FEW SHOWERS ACROSS WEST ALABAMA TODAY; WARM ACROSS REGION… Temperatures will be too warm for a mid-February day, climatologically speaking, with most locales likely to have highs in the low- to mid-70s. A few showers may happen today, specifically across parts of west Alabama in Mobile and Washington counties. Thunderstorms are not expected in our area today. That changes tomorrow, however.
RAIN CHANCES INCREASE THURSDAY MORNING… Spotty showers will likely increase in coverage across the region tomorrow morning ahead of the potential for heavier, more consistent rain, flash flooding, and strong storms tomorrow evening. High temperatures on Thursday will surge into the mid-70s as warm, moist air moves in from the Gulf of Mexico. This warm, buoyant air mass will allow for storms to “fuel up” tomorrow evening.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – THURSDAY… 2PM tomorrow to 2AM on Friday will be the 12 hour window when strong to severe thunderstorms will be likely to happen in south Alabama and northwest Florida. 5PM to 11PM is the “core window” when storms are most likely to happen locally. While the overall tornado and damaging wind risk will be maximized in areas to our north and west, I still encourage everyone to have multiple ways to get urgent weather warnings as a few tornadoes will be possible in our local area.
LEVEL 2 (OUT OF 5) SEVERE WEATHER RISK FOR WEST ALABAMA… Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Choctaw, Marengo, and Wilcox counties are the six counties in southwest Alabama that are involved in the Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone valid for Thursday. These are the zones where scattered severe thunderstorms may happen Thursday afternoon and into the evening hours. This includes places like Chatom, Millry, Leroy, St. Stephens, Wagerville, McIntosh, Thomasville, Grove Hill, Jackson, Coffeeville, Whatley, Fulton, Campbell, Toddtown, Alma, Monroeville, Perdue Hill, Mexia, Beatrice, Keith, Hybart, Pine Hill, Camden, Oak Hill, Linden, Sweet Water, Butler, Gilbertown, Toxey, and Silas.
LEVEL 1 (OUT OF 5) RISK… Every other locale (outside of the aforementioned zones above) in south Alabama and northwest Florida remains involved in the low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone. A Level 1 risk means that severe storms still may be possible in some scenarios, but the overall risk is lower. This zone includes Mobile, Wilmer, Dauphin Island, Prichard, Saraland, Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Foley, Orange Beach, Elberta, Magnolia Springs, Loxley, Robertsdale, Bay Minette, Perdido, Pensacola, Molino, Warrington, Perdido Key, Century, Walnut Hill, Milton, Pace, Navarre, Jay, Berrydale, Chumuckla, Floridatown, Holt, Harold, Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Laurel Hill, Brewton, Atmore, Flomaton, Poarch, Wallace, Damascus, Evergreen, Repton, Range, Owassa, Castleberry, Lyeffion, Brooklyn, Andalusia, Opp, Florala, Straughn, River Falls, Red Level, Carolina, Onycha, Rose Hill, Greenville, Georgiana, Chapman, Forest Home, and surrounding areas.
LINGERING SHOWERS POSSIBLE FRIDAY… Heavier rain will clear out in the overnight hours of Thursday night into early Friday morning. A few lingering showers may be possible in the early morning hours of Friday, but rain should be completely to our east by Noon. High temperatures on Friday are expected to be in the 50s as much cooler, drier air moves in from the northwest behind the advancing cold front.
COOLER, DRIER WEEKEND… High temperatures will be in the 60s this weekend with morning lows in the 30s. Partly cloudy skies are expected on both Saturday and Sunday.
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 Wednesday morning #rzw forecast video. Have a great day!
