STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE IN THE HOURS AHEAD… Have a way to hear warnings in the hours ahead as thunderstorms are expected to develop later this morning and move northeast across our local area. A few tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail will be possible in the thunderstorms that develop later this morning and into the early afternoon hours. Fortunately, it seems like storms should be done in our local area by 2-3PM at the latest. The evening hours will feature much better weather with a nice, warm weekend ahead. A few more Friday morning forecast notes are below.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – TODAY… 8AM to 2PM remains the 6 hour window when strong to severe thunderstorms are most likely to happen on this Friday. Storms will likely rapidly develop later this morning and move northeast across our area. The greatest risk for severe storms will happen across inland areas of south Alabama. Storms will likely clear out to our east by 2-3PM.
MAIN CONCERNS TODAY: TORNADOES, GUSTY WINDS, LARGE HAIL… While the overall tornado risk will be maximized inland today, particularly in areas along and EAST of Interstate 65, we all have at least some risk of a tornado happening nearby today. Most communities WON’T have tornado issues today, but it is impossible to know in advance exactly where a tornado will form specifically. This is why we encourage everyone to have a way to hear warnings today. Damaging wind gusts and large hail will also be concerns.
LEVEL 3 (OUT OF 5) SEVERE WEATHER RISK… The Storm Prediction Center continues to include parts of south-central and east Alabama into their Level 3 (out of 5) severe weather risk valid for today. A Level 3 (out of 5) severe weather risk means that scattered severe storms are likely and some of the storms may be intense. The Level 3 (out of 5) risk zone includes parts of Covington, Conecuh, Monroe, and Butler counties locally, including places like Andalusia, Opp, Straughn, Red Level, River Falls, Carolina, Clearview, Gantt, Rose Hill, South, Brooks, Evergreen, Repton, Range, Lenox, Brooklyn, Paul, Melrose, Johnsonville, Owassa, Greenville, Georgiana, McKenzie, Starlington, Forest Home, Daisy, Oaky Streak, Monroeville, Beatrice, Old Texas, Tunnel Springs, Peterman, and surrounding areas. We note that other communities in parts of southeast and east Alabama are also involved in the Level 3 (out of 5) risk zone: Enterprise, Elba, Ft. Rucker, Abbeville, Eufaula, Troy, Brundidge, Luverne, Brantley, Highland Home, Ft. Deposit, Hayneville, Montgomery, Prattville, Wetumpka, Auburn, Lake Martin, Alexander City, Dadeville, Union Springs, Valley, Lanett, Roanoke, Smiths Station, and Phenix City. Areas near Columbus (GA), Macon (GA), and the southern side of Atlanta (GA) are also involved in the Level 3 risk zone.
LEVEL 2 (OUT OF 5) RISK FOR ALL OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITIES… Everyone else (outside of the higher Level 3 out of 5 risk discussed above) is involved in the Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone locally. A Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone means scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible, including the potential for tornadoes, gusty winds, and large hail. This Level 2 (out of 5) risk zone currently includes Mobile, Prichard, Creola, Saraland, Satsuma, Chickasaw, Wilmer, Citronelle, Mt. Vernon, West Mobile, Theodore, Bayou La Batre, Sunny Cove, Alabama Port, Dauphin Island, Coden, Dawes, Mauvila, Turnerville, Daphne, Fairhope, Montrose, Bay Minette, Spanish Fort, Bromley, Stapleton, Stockton, Foley, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan, Magnolia Springs, Summerdale, Robertsdale, Gateswood, Loxley, Perdido, Elsanor, Elberta, Tensaw, Atmore, Poarch, Huxford, Sardine, Wawbeek, Canoe, Flomaton, Brewton, East Brewton, Riverview, Dixonville, Bradley, Century, Brett, Walnut Hill, Molino, Pensacola, Ensley, Warrington, Myrtle Grove, NAS Pensacola, Perdido Key, Gonzalez, McDavid, Jay, Berrydale, Whitfield, Whiting Field, Allentown, Chumuckla, Milton, Pace, Pea Ridge, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Opal Beach, Floridale, Floridatown, Munson, Laurel Hill, Escambia Farms, Baker, Milligan, Crestview, Campton, Deerland, Dorcas, Destin, Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Wing, Florala, Uriah, Perdue Hill, Megargal, Thomasville, Jackson, Grove Hill, Coffeeville, Whatley, Scyrene, Fulton, Chatom, Millry, Wagerville, Leroy, McIntosh, Vinegar Bend, Deer Park, and St. Stephens. The Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk also includes many more communities across Alabama, including places like Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Dothan, Talladega, Demopolis, Selma, Huntsville, Gadsden, Clanton, Geneva, and Butler.
NICE, SUNNY CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY… Saturday has increasingly trended toward a drier solution, meaning we can now call for mostly sunny skies throughout the day with high temperatures expected to be in the mid- to upper-80s. Sunshine is expected on Sunday as well with highs in the upper-80s.
SUNNY, HOT START TO THE WEEK… Sunny, nice weather will continue into the upcoming week. Sunny skies are expected Monday and Tuesday. High temperatures will be in the low-90s each day with morning lows in the mid-60s. We could have a small rain chance setting up on Wednesday into Thursday of the upcoming week.
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 throughout the day 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 updates posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. Have a nice Friday!