DAMAGING WIND GUSTS & TORNADOES POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING… The overall risk of severe storms has increased, per the latest guidance from the Storm Prediction Center. Much of southwest Alabama is now involved in the Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk valid for tonight into tomorrow morning. Coastal Alabama and northwest Florida remain in the Level 2 (out of 5) risk zone. Widespread damaging wind gusts and tornadoes will be possible. While the core of the risk will probably set up to our northwest across parts of Mississippi, a strong to severe line of thunderstorms is expected to cross our region tonight into tomorrow morning. Regardless of which risk zone you are involved with, please have a way to hear urgent weather warnings overnight into Sunday morning.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY… Tonight from midnight to 8AM is the main window for strong to severe thunderstorms across south Alabama and northwest Florida early SUNDAY morning. The hazards of concern with this event for our local area include the potential for widespread damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes. This will probably be a quick-moving line of thunderstorms. IF storms move in earlier than expected, the overall tornado risk would be a bit higher.
DAYTIME HOURS TODAY TO BE MOSTLY DRY; SHOWERS IN EVENING… The daytime hours today should feature mostly dry conditions. There may be a few scattered showers after 3PM but I expect most locales to remain completely dry until the main line of thunderstorms moves through in the overnight hours extending into Sunday morning. 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!