RISK OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND TORNADOES INCREASING FOR OVERNIGHT HOURS… Everyone across south Alabama and northwest Florida except areas right at the immediate beaches are now involved in the Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk valid for tonight into early Sunday. This risk is driven by an increasing risk of widespread, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes. The line of thunderstorms that moves across our region may be particularly intense, producing widespread swaths of wind damage. The greater focus for wind damage may be across southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama. This will be a purely nocturnal severe weather event, meaning it will exclusively happen overnight from midnight to 8AM. Please have a way to hear warnings! We all need something loud (like a weather radio) that can wake us up in case a warning is required for your specific location.
A NOTE ABOUT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS TONIGHT… I realize severe thunderstorm warnings are “a dime a dozen” (happen frequently) in the summer months around here. Tonight, however, will be different from those pulse-type severe thunderstorm warnings. Severe thunderstorm warnings issued tonight will be issued due to a line of intense thunderstorms capable of producing 70-80 mph wind gusts. This means that tree damage and power line damage is more likely to happen overnight into early Sunday morning. I encourage everyone to treat the severe thunderstorm warnings like a tornado warning overnight and be away from windows in the middle part of your house. Take ALL the warnings seriously tonight. In addition to severe thunderstorm warnings, a few tornado warnings will also be possible.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY… Tonight from midnight to 8AM Sunday continues to be the main window for strong to severe thunderstorms across south Alabama and northwest Florida. This should be a fast-moving line of thunderstorms that crosses our region in roughly a six to seven hour span.
A FEW REMINDERS ABOUT NIGHTTIME STORMS… Now is the time, before storms arrive, to charge cell phones and other electronic devices in case power outages happen overnight. It is also a good time to check the batteries in your NOAA Weather Radio. One thing that a lot of folks forget to do on a night like tonight is ensuring “do not disturb” is not turned on to make sure you can get critical weather alerts overnight.
WHAT TO EXPECT: NEXT FEW HOURS… The afternoon hours today will feature mostly dry conditions. As of 1:30PM, we are seeing a few scattered showers starting to develop, but these have featured sprinkles and light rain so far. High temperatures today will be in the mid 70s.
COLDER AIR TO MOVE IN SUNDAY MORNING BEHIND THE STORMS… One of the reasons we are expecting thunderstorms tonight into Sunday morning is because of a strong cold front moving toward our local area from the northwest. This cold front will move across our region Sunday morning behind the advancing storms. Temperatures on Sunday afternoon will be in the upper 50s. Overnight lows by Monday morning will be near or just below the freezing mark. Winter is set to make a comeback this week. Fortunately, I do not see any signs of a long duration, significant cold outbreak. Highs on Monday will be in the 50s with 60s likely by Tuesday. Another shot of cold air will arrive late Wednesday.
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 Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I will have more updates posted throughout the day and into tonight in the RedZone Weather app. As always, if tornado warnings are required locally tonight into Sunday morning, we will “go live” on Facebook Live and YouTube Live to bring you the very latest.
Have a good Saturday!