DEEP SOUTH TORNADO OUTBREAK TODAY INTO TONIGHT… Intense, long track tornadoes are expected today across parts of the Deep South today into tonight. Some of these tornadoes will likely be large, produce EF3+ damage, and be on the ground for quite awhile. We cannot stress enough how important it is for everyone to have multiple ways to hear tornado warnings today into tonight! We had a tornado outbreak last night across areas to our north in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Today we are expecting a tornado outbreak closer to home with some of the tornadoes being likely in parts of south Alabama and northwest Florida.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – TODAY INTO TONIGHT… The risk of all severe weather hazards, including a few intense tornadoes, will ramp up later today. Noon today to 3AM Sunday is the time frame for south Alabama and northwest Florida with the CORE time frame being 6PM to midnight. Tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and damaging (potentially as large as tennis ball size) hail will be possible. The risk has already started for areas to our west in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. At least one tornado happened overnight in parts of north-central Mississippi.
HIGH RISK (LEVEL 5 OUT OF 5) FOR CENTRAL, WEST ALABAMA & EAST MISSISSIPPI… The maximum risk level on the Storm Prediction Center convective outlook scale is called a “High Risk” Level 5 (out of 5) zone. We have only had 2 high risk zones for parts of southwest Alabama and northwest Florida since 2007. Today (Saturday, March 15, 2025) is Level 5 (out of 5) high risk day for Thomasville, Coffeeville, Millry, Gilbertown, Silas, Butler, Sweet Water, Linden, Demopolis, Livingston, Eutaw, Greensboro, Marion, Selma, Clanton, Centreville, Brent, Alabaster, Columbiana, Sylacauga, Rockford, Talladega, Leeds, Anniston, Oneonta, Birmingham, Cullman, Double Springs, Jasper, Fayette, Russellville, Hamilton, Sulligent, Reform, Gordo, Aliceville, Northport, and Tuscaloosa. These cities and towns have an extremely dangerous severe weather risk today into tonight, maxed out at a Level 5 (out of 5) risk. The tornado outbreak is most likely to happen in these zones, including a few intense, long track, EF3+ tornadoes. Wind and hail damage is also possible.
LEVEL 4 (OUT OF 5) SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR MUCH OF SOUTH ALABAMA & N.W. FLORIDA… Much of south Alabama and northwest Florida is involved in the significant, Level 4 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone today. A Level 4 risk happens about once or twice a year for parts of our local area. In this specific case, all of us across the local area have (at minimum) a Level 4 risk. This means numerous severe thunderstorms are likely, including some strong, EF2+ tornadoes. Please don’t think that just because you’re not in the Level 5 risk that you’re in the clear – that is NOT how this works. We WILL have some tornadoes in the lower risk zones today.
BE ABLE TO GET WARNINGS… Most importantly, **HAVE A WAY TO RECEIVE WEATHER WARNINGS THRU TONIGHT.** If you don’t have a way to get the warnings, the rest of these points are moot. You have to KNOW when something is happening in your area! No matter where you are in Alabama, northwest Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, or Tennessee, you are included in a severe weather risk zone today into tonight. NOAA Weather Radios are great but they do generally need batteries (AA, AAA, etc.). Also, my company, RedZone Weather, has an app (free download at redzoneweather.com/app) that you can watch our live streaming video coverage if/when tornado warnings happen in southwest Alabama or northwest Florida (coverage commitments available here: redzoneweather.com/coverage)
WHY TORNADO HELMETS WORK SO WELL… Consistent research studies continue to show that wearing a helmet during a tornado that strikes your location greatly increases your chance of survival. Why? Because majority of fatal injuries that happen due to tornadoes happen because of blunt force trauma to the head/skull region. Thus, if we can mitigate this hazard in any way, we should. That’s where helmets and cooking pots come into the equation. Anything is better than nothing in this case. This means if you can grab a football, baseball, softball, bicycle, motorcycle, ballistics, or welding helmet and put it on, it will highly likely help you survive a tornado impact. Note this helmet deal isn’t just for children. It applies to everyone, no matter if you’re 8, 28, or 88 years old. Everyone needs a severe weather helmet. I cannot recommend them to you enough!
CHARGE THE PHONES/TABLETS NOW… Charge your cell phones and iPads and other electronic devices ahead of the significant severe weather potential later today into tonight. Power may be out in some areas of Alabama, northwest Florida, and Mississippi tonight if we see long track tornadoes or widespread damaging winds. If you’ve been on the fence about purchasing one of the fantastic small battery backups that can power your phone or iPad, I highly recommend getting one the next time you go to the store or visit Amazon. You’ll need a charging cable to go with it.
WHISTLES/AIRHORNS/IDs… You need something like a whistle, air horn, or something else that can emit a loud noise to let first responders know if you’ve been affected by a tornado and you’re trapped under debris. It’s important to also have your ID on your person during tornado warnings. If you need medical help and you’re unconscious, first responders need to know who you are. This may seem scary, but this direct advice could save your life.
CLOSED-TOED SHOES… It would pain me so much to hear that someone had been affected by a tornado, survived it, then walked out of a destroyed home, stepped on a live electrical wire and got electrocuted. Wear closed-toed shoes later today into tonight! This is something that is so easy that we can all do with little effort. No sandals, no Crocs. Closed-toed shoes through tonight.
PEOPLE AND PETS… Don’t forget about the pets when/if you have to take shelter today into tonight. Dogs and cats need to be sheltered too! Also, don’t forget to LET PEOPLE KNOW that we have a substantial severe weather risk across portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and northwest Florida. You’d be amazed at how many people I see regularly that don’t have a clue what’s happening in the news and weather world. That’s fine — until it’s not and they become a tornado casualty. Get this post out, push someone else’s weather post, I really don’t care what you share as long as you TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS RISK.
HAVE A PLAN… It is important to make a plan NOW about where you’ll be over the next 24 hours – meaning if you know you’ll be at a certain location, knowing in advance where the tornado safe place is at that structure. We recommend getting on the lowest floor of a well-constructed, site-built structure (like a sturdy house or business), away from windows and doors, putting as many walls as you possibly can between you and the outside world. You CANNOT be in a vehicle or a mobile home during a tornado warnings! These places become death traps very quickly in tornado situations… Don’t think, “Oh, I’ll try to outrun it.” NO. This could prove to be a fatal mistake. Underground tornado shelters are the best place to be, but many folks don’t have one of those, and that is okay. You don’t have to be underground to survive a tornado.
FIND COVERAGE IN YOUR AREA NOW… I provide live streaming video coverage via our RedZone Weather app and on redzoneweather.com during tornado warnings for 12 counties in southwest Alabama and in northwest Florida. Some of you reading this post are NOT in our local area. While I appreciate you reading this, I would suggest finding out NOW who covers tornado warnings in your specific area. redzoneweather.com/coverage outlines our coverage policy extensively. Find a meteorologist you trust and watch the information!
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, YouTube Live, and in the Live tab of 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!
SET UP APP ALERTS… We send quite a bit of Low-Level Alerts in our RedZone Weather app. The app is totally free for you! redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you see the download links to your respective app store for iOS and for Android devices. Once you have the app downloaded to your smartphone or tablet device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I am in the process of putting together a special Saturday morning edition of the RedZone Weather forecast video that will be posted by 7:15AM. Hope you’ll join us for that.
Have a great Saturday and please HAVE A WAY TO GET WARNINGS THROUGH TONIGHT! Stay safe!
