SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TILL 2AM; STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE IN HOURS AHEAD… A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for inland counties this evening. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means that severe storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail will be possible. We note that thunderstorms over the next several hours will be moving FROM east TO west, which is counterintuitive to what happens most of the time across our region. See more info below as to why this storm motion is happening. The overall tornado risk tonight is VERY low, if not zero, in most spots. Thunderstorms will be capable of downing a few trees across the region, however.

STORM TIMING – TONIGHT… Thunderstorms will be possible through 2AM, when the severe thunderstorm watch expires. A small cluster of thunderstorms has formed in southeast Alabama this evening. This cluster of storms may grow larger and become an issue with damaging wind gusts over the next few hours.

WHY STORMS ARE MOVING WEST… Basically, what happened last evening and what could happen (to some degree) later this evening is a cluster of thunderstorms being driven clockwise around a large ridge of high pressure situated to our northwest. Because the air flow around an area of high pressure moves clockwise (as opposed to counterclockwise in an area of low pressure in the northern hemisphere), these “small” (relatively anyway) clusters of storms are essentially rotating around the large high. Since our area is on the southern side of this area of high pressure, we’re in the “6PM spot” on an analog clock. Thus, the storms are coming out of the east.

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 over the next several hours in the RedZone Weather app. My next forecast video will be posted by 7:15AM tomorrow morning. Have a nice evening!

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