STRONG TORNADOES & DAMAGING WIND RISK ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT… Wednesday evening into early Thursday morning is when a line of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected to move across south Alabama and northwest Florida, bringing with it a significant tornado potential along with a heightened potential for damaging straight line winds. This line of storms could be particularly intense, knocking down trees and power lines across parts of our region. The Storm Prediction Center continues to include much of our local area in their Level 4 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone, meaning this is a substantial risk. It is imperative that we all have a way to get urgent weather warnings (tornado warnings AND severe thunderstorm warnings) tomorrow evening into Thursday morning. We all need a device that can be LOUD and wake us up if a warning is needed for our specific location. A few more Tuesday evening forecast notes are below.

SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY… Wednesday evening into early Thursday morning remains the primary severe weather risk will likely set up across south Alabama and northwest Florida. 6PM Wednesday to 6AM Thursday is the 12 hour window when severe weather threat will likely maximize across our area. 9PM to 3AM looks to be the 6 hour “core risk” window for local areas. Again, please have a way to get warnings Wednesday night. We all need a device that can wake us up if a tornado warning is needed locally.

STRONG TORNADOES POSSIBLE… Fast-moving tornadoes will be possible on Wednesday evening into early Thursday, not only in discrete, isolated storms out ahead of the main batch of storms but also in the main line of storms set to move through our region in the overnight hours. Some of these tornadoes may be significant or strong (EF2+). To be clear, these tornadoes may be powerful and be on the ground for many miles. It is so important to have a way to get tornado warnings tomorrow into tomorrow night!

DAMAGING WIND RISK ACROSS LOCAL AREA… I am particularly concerned about the potential for a widespread, damaging wind event across Mississippi, Alabama, and northwest Florida setting up for Wednesday night. The main line of strong to severe thunderstorms slated to move across our region could be particularly intense, knocking down trees and power lines in some areas. Tomorrow will be a day when we all need to have our phones, tablets, and computers charged ahead of the potential for isolated power outages. This is something simple that we all can do ahead of this severe weather potential – make sure your devices are charged and ready.

LEVEL 4 (OUT OF 5) RISK EXPANDED TODAY… The Storm Prediction Center expanded the Level 4 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone to include a large chunk of our local area in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida. The truth is, regardless of which specific color/number your community is involved in, we ALL have a significant risk of severe storms setting up for Wednesday into early Thursday. Forget about the color/number/risk zone, just know we all have a substantial risk that is quite uncommon, even for this time of year in the heart of severe weather season. A Level 4 (out of 5) risk means that widespread severe thunderstorms are likely, including some that may be particularly intense and/or long-lasting. This Level 4 risk is driven by the heightened potential of strong tornadoes (EF2+) AND by the potential for a widespread, damaging wind event. Take severe thunderstorm warnings just as seriously as tornado warnings tomorrow night!

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… Many updates will be posted over the next few days in the RedZone Weather app. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Be sure to visit the Alerts tab (bottom right corner) and tap the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize the alerts you’d like to receive from me. If you like a lot of info, be sure to toggle ON Low-Level Alerts.

I will have more updates throughout the night and into tomorrow in the RedZone Weather app. As always, we will “go live” on Facebook and across our platforms when we have tornado warnings tomorrow night. Have a good Tuesday evening!

SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER RISK UNFORTUNATELY TO BE IN NIGHT HOURS… Severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong tornadoes and particularly intense damaging straight line winds will become possible Wednesday evening into the overnight hours. Ahead of the storms, we have a very windy day on tap for Wednesday with 30-40 mph gusts being possible throughout the day. You can see in the attached graphic the latest thinking in terms of timing for when severe storms will be most likely to happen across our local area in south Alabama and northwest Florida. 6PM Wednesday to 6AM Thursday remains the 12 hour window when severe storms are most likely to happen locally, with 9PM to 3AM being the “core window.” I am in the process of preparing for a live video update later this evening. Below you will find our 8 keys to severe weather safety. Please have a way to get warnings tomorrow night and please take severe thunderstorm warnings just as seriously as tornado warnings as straight line winds may be particularly intense. Power outages will be possible as we may have trees and power lines coming down in 70-80 mph wind gusts in certain areas.

Trust me when I say I do not like overnight severe weather events just as much as many of you. This is inconvenient for just about everyone. I understand that. Please have a way to get warnings and heed the warnings if you get one for your location tomorrow night. I’ll be with you every step of the way in the RedZone Weather app and when we have urgent warnings, live on Facebook and across our platforms.

1. WARNINGS… Most importantly, **HAVE A WAY TO RECEIVE WEATHER WARNINGS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.** If you don’t have a way to get the warnings, the rest of these points are moot. You have to KNOW when something is happening in your area! No matter where you are in Alabama, northwest Florida, or Mississippi, you’re included in a severe weather risk zone on Wednesday night. NOAA Weather Radios are great but they do generally need batteries (AA, AAA, etc.), The SAF-T-Net (free) app is great. Note that if you previously used the “Weather Radio” app, the company that produced that app no longer supports it. Also, my company, RedZone Weather, has an app (free download at redzoneweather.com/app) that you can watch our live streaming video and audio coverage if tornado warnings happen in southwest Alabama or northwest Florida (coverage commitments available here: redzoneweather.com/coverage)

2. WHY HELMETS WORK SO WELL… Emerging research continues to show that wearing a helmet during a tornado that strikes your location greatly increases your chance of survival. Why? Because the majority of fatal injuries that happen due to tornadoes happen because of blunt force trauma to the head/skull region. Thus, if we can mitigate this hazard in any way, we should. That’s where helmets and cooking pots come into the equation. Anything is better than nothing in this case. This means if you can grab a football, baseball, softball, bicycle, motorcycle, ballistics, or welding helmet and put it on, it will highly likely help you survive a tornado impact. Note this helmet deal isn’t just for children. It applies to everyone, no matter if you’re 8, 28, or 88 years old. Everyone needs a severe weather helmet. I cannot recommend them to you enough!

3. PHONES/TABLETS… Charge your cell phones and iPads and other electronic devices tomorrow during the day! Don’t wait. Power may be out in some areas of Alabama, northwest Florida, and Mississippi on Wednesday night if/when intense storms happen. If you’ve been on the fence about purchasing one of the fantastic small battery backups that can power your phone or iPad, I highly recommend getting one the next time you go to the store or visit Amazon. In my experience, I’m a fan of the Anker batteries. You’ll need a charging cable to go with it.

4. WHISTLES/AIRHORNS/IDs… You need something like a whistle, air horn, or something else that can emit a loud noise to let first responders know if you’ve been affected by a tornado and you’re trapped under debris. It’s important to also have your ID on your person during tornado warnings. If you need medical help and you’re unconscious, first responders need to know who you are.

5. CLOSED-TOED SHOES… It would pain me so much to hear that someone had been affected by a tornado, survived it, then walked out of a destroyed home, stepped on a live electrical wire and got electrocuted. Wear closed-toed shoes on Wednesday night! This is an easy thing we can all do with little effort.

6. PEOPLE AND PETS… Don’t forget about the pets when/if you have to take shelter on Wednesday night. Dogs and cats need to be sheltered too! Also, don’t forget to LET PEOPLE KNOW that we have a substantial severe weather risk across portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and northwest Florida on Wednesday night. You’d be amazed at how many people I see regularly that don’t have a clue what’s happening in the news and weather world. That’s fine — until it’s not and they become a tornado casualty. Share this point, share someone else’s weather post, I really don’t care what you share as long as you TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS RISK. You can be the hero and save a life. TELL YOUR FOLKS about this risk.

7. HAVE A PLAN… Know NOW where you’ll be on Wednesday night. We recommend getting on the lowest floor of a well-constructed, site-built structure (like a sturdy house or business), away from windows and doors, putting as many walls as you possibly can between you and the outside world. You CANNOT be in a vehicle or a mobile home during tornado warnings! These places become death traps very quickly in tornado situations… Don’t think, “Oh, I’ll try to outrun it.” NO. This could prove to be a fatal mistake. Underground tornado shelters are the best place to be, but many folks don’t have one of those, and that is okay. You don’t have to be underground to survive a tornado. For the sake of taking up resources by our incredible first responders, please don’t be a bonehead and try to “chase storms.” Leave that to the professionals who have years of training.

8. COVERAGE… I provide live streaming video coverage via our RedZone Weather app and on redzoneweather.com during tornado warnings for 12 counties in southwest Alabama and in northwest Florida. Some of you reading this post are NOT in our local area. While I appreciate you reading this, I would suggest finding out NOW who covers tornado warnings in your specific area. redzoneweather.com/coverage outlines our coverage policy extensively. Find a weather source you trust and watch the information on Wednesday night!

Lastly, this is March in the Deep South. This severe weather risk is NOT that unusual. Severe weather risks are a part of our lives in this state and around the Deep South. When/if the weather takes a turn for the worst on Wednesday night, let’s show the world how prepared we are in making these good tornado warning decisions! I believe in Alabama and northwest Florida and I love the people of our region! We will get through this. Do not be scared, be prepared. No reason at all to panic or be afraid as long as you have good, reliable ways to get warnings and take action when/if tornado warnings are needed for your specific location.

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… 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 a live video update starting later this evening concerning this developing severe weather risk. Be sure to join me for that. I’ll also have shorter form updates in the RedZone Weather app later this evening and early in the morning ahead of our severe weather threat on Wednesday night. Have a nice evening!