SEVERE STORMS LIKELY SATURDAY; ISOLATED STORMS ON THURSDAY… Severe thunderstorms will be possible on Saturday into Saturday night across much of the Deep South, including here in south Alabama and northwest Florida. The threat of tornadoes and damaging wind gusts will likely be maximized across the state of Alabama, east Mississippi, northwest Florida, western Georgia, and southern Tennessee. This could be the most significant severe weather threat we have had so far in 2025. In addition, before we get to Saturday, a low-end risk of a few stronger storms will happen on Thursday across parts of Alabama and Mississippi.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY NIGHT… The number one question today has been “what time will we have severe storms this weekend?” I, nor anyone else, can definitively answer that just yet. What I can do is tell you what the model guidance is suggesting. Before we do that, however, please understand that we are still 4-5 days out from this event and FORECAST CHANGES ARE LIKELY. Don’t get fixated on this timing forecast and take it as “set in stone.” It most definitely is not set in stone just yet. 9AM Saturday to 2AM Sunday is the current window for severe thunderstorms on Saturday across south Alabama and northwest Florida. The threat will begin potentially quite a bit earlier for areas to our north and west AND the threat will exist after our local time line in areas to our south and east.
MAINLY SUNNY WEDNESDAY; ISOLATED STORMS POSSIBLE THURSDAY… No significant weather hazards are expected across the Deep South on Wednesday. The Storm Prediction Center has included much of Alabama and parts of east Mississippi and western Georgia in their low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone valid for THURSDAY. The main concerns with any stronger storms that develop on Thursday will be the potential for gusty winds and hail. The overall tornado risk Thursday remains quite low. The storms that fire up on Thursday should mostly be rowdy storms with “more bark than bite.” It won’t rain all day in any given spot on Thursday and any storms that develop should not last in any given location very long. The coverage of thunderstorms will be quite isolated in nature, and there is a real chance some communities remain completely dry on Thursday. High temperatures will be in the upper 70s.
SEVERE STORMS TO OUR NORTH AND WEST ON FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY… Severe thunderstorms will be possible across parts of Arkansas, western Tennessee, and northern Mississippi on Friday. Tornadoes, including some strong tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and hail will be possible. Places like Memphis (TN), Little Rock (AR), Cleveland (MS), Oxford (MS), Jackson (TN) are involved in the Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk valid on FRIDAY. The threat shifts south and eastward overnight on Friday into early Saturday. There is a chance of isolated severe storms late Friday into early Saturday across parts of central Mississippi and northwest Alabama. The main concern, however, sets up on Saturday into Saturday night.
TORNADOES, DAMAGING WIND GUSTS, HAIL POSSIBLE SATURDAY INTO SAT. NIGHT… The severe weather risk for Saturday into Saturday night continues to increase across the Deep South. Nearly ALL of Alabama and northwest Florida are involved in the Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk, meaning scattered severe storms are likely. We are still 4-5 days out from this event. Further outlook refinements are LIKELY. Some of the tornadoes on Saturday could be strong (EF2+) tornadoes that are on the ground for quite some time. This is a classic Deep South springtime severe weather event. Everyone is strongly encouraged to have multiple ways to hear urgent warnings Saturday into Saturday night. Unfortunately, the event will probably last into the evening and overnight hours for some communities, particularly across the southern half of Alabama, western Georgia, and northwest Florida. We will be up with you every step of the way posting updates in the RedZone Weather app and “going live” if/when tornado warnings are issued locally. redzoneweather.com/coverage outlines our longstanding coverage commitment.
WEATHER ANXIETY IS A REAL THING… Reiterating this point from last night: I understand that tornado/storm/weather anxiety is a real thing for many folks. I know seeking out the information can sometimes feel overwhelming. While this storm anxiety is a very real phenomenon, I would encourage you to check in at least once a day over the next few days. Info can and will change quickly, thus it is important to stay ahead of the latest developments. I will have plenty of updates posted in the RedZone Weather app with more updates on Facebook each day as well. Know that even on a “higher risk day” like what Saturday may be for some areas, the probability of a tornado hitting your house is very low overall. While this is certainly true, it’s also true that it only takes one storm to make for a very bad day. We will keep you posted every step of the way in the RedZone Weather app.
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… redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you can download the free RedZone Weather app. We post brief updates throughout each day in the app, keeping you up-to-date about the latest happenings in weather across south Alabama and northwest Florida. Once you have the free app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) then tap the large Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I will have updates posted in the RedZone Weather app in the days ahead. Join me tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 7:15AM in the next regularly scheduled RedZone Weather forecast video for the latest information.
Have a good Tuesday evening!
