TORNADO RISK THROUGH THIS EVENING AND INTO TONIGHT… Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms will be possible over the next 24 hours with a tornado potential setting up this evening, tomorrow morning, and potentially again on Thursday afternoon. We are entering into a very active weather period with multiple waves of thunderstorms expected. The first round will kick off over the next several hours and extend into this evening. The greatest severe weather potential with this first round of storms will be over west Alabama, particularly in areas west of the Alabama River. Another, lower-end tornado risk will set up on Thursday morning, followed by the final round of storms Thursday afternoon. The big headline here is that everyone should have a way to hear urgent weather warnings in the hours ahead. While the overall tornado risk will be LOW overnight, it won’t be zero. Have a way to hear warnings overnight as well.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – THIS EVENING INTO TONIGHT… 5PM to 9PM will be the four hour window on this Wednesday when thunderstorms are most likely to be severe in southwest Alabama. The entire region will have a lower-end (not zero) severe weather risk tomorrow (Thursday) morning from 4AM to 9AM. Then, we will have one final round of storms on Thursday probably from 1PM to 5PM ahead of drier conditions finally arriving tomorrow evening. These time frames are merely estimates based on the latest high-resolution model guidance. Again, severe storms will be possible over the next 24 hours. It is so important that we all are able to get warnings now through tomorrow evening.
HIGHER SEVERE WEATHER RISK ACROSS WEST ALABAMA… The greatest risk of tornadoes and damaging winds happening over the next few hours will be across southwest Alabama, specifically in parts of Mobile, Baldwin, Monroe, Clarke, Washington, Choctaw, and Marengo counties. These are the zones involved in the Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone. A Level 2 (out of 5) risk means that scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible, including a few tornadoes. Damaging wind gusts and hail will also be concerns.
LOW-END SEVERE WEATHER RISK INTO THURSDAY… Much of the remainder of our area remains involved in the low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone. A Level 1 risk means that widespread severe weather is much less likely to happen, but a few stronger storms can’t completely be ruled out. This zone includes much of Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia (AL), Conecuh, Butler, Covington, and Crenshaw counties. A lower-end risk does not equal zero. Please have a way to hear warnings regardless of which severe weather risk zone you are in.
BETTER WEATHER ON FRIDAY AND THIS WEEKEND… Finally, we get a break from active weather starting tomorrow (Thursday) night. Storms will move out at some point tomorrow afternoon or evening, paving the way for a nice, dry, warm Memorial Day holiday weekend. Highs will be in the upper-80s this weekend with morning lows in the 60s.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ENTIRE LOCAL AREA… The National Weather Service has included all of our local area in a Flash Flood Watch valid until Thursday evening. An additional 1 to 3 inches of total rainfall will be possible over the next 24 hours and flash flooding will quickly become a concern where storms train over the same areas. If you encounter a water-covered roadway, please “turn around, don’t drown.” We lose far too many people across America each year due to these preventable water-related deaths. Don’t risk it. Thank you.
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 more updates posted over the next several hours in the RedZone Weather app. If we have tornado warnings in the hours ahead, be sure to join me on Facebook Live or YouTube Live for the very latest information. Have a great Wednesday evening!