SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE MONDAY; CONCERNS: A FEW TORNADOES & DAMAGING WIND GUSTS… Severe thunderstorms capable of producing a few tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail will become possible on Monday, March 31. The Storm Prediction Center has included ALL of south Alabama and northwest Florida in their Level 2 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone. A Level 2 risk means conditions are favorable for the development of scattered severe storms, including a few tornadoes. Most communities will simply have a round of heavy rain and loud thunderstorms on Monday but a few of the storms may become severe and produce hazards. We’re in the middle of an unsettled weather pattern that will continue to bring intermittent rain and thunderstorms to our region until the “main event” arrives on Monday.
LOW-END SEVERE WEATHER RISK TONIGHT AND SUNDAY… If you have stepped outside over the last several hours, you probably felt the instability in the air in the muggy, unsettled air mass in place across our region. This soupy, warm air mass will continue to exist locally overnight and into Sunday. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase across the region on Sunday, particularly in the afternoon and evening hours. While widespread severe storms are not expected tonight or tomorrow across the local area, one or two strong to severe storms cannot completely be ruled out. We’re involved in the Level 1 (out of 5), low-end severe weather risk until Monday morning when the risk increases to a Level 2 risk. Expect intermittent rain and thunderstorms at times tonight and tomorrow. It won’t rain the whole time, but spotty storms will be possible. High temperatures tomorrow will be in the mid to upper 70s with ample humidity in place.
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER RISK TO OUR NORTH ON SUNDAY… Tomorrow (Sunday) will be quite similar to today across the local area with a slightly higher chance of rain and thunderstorms. Widespread severe storms are not expected across south Alabama and northwest Florida. Much of northwest Alabama, north Mississippi, Arkansas, northern Louisiana, and western Tennessee (along with several other states to our north) are involved in a large Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk zone. Strong, EF2+ tornadoes will be possible in those areas on Sunday into Sunday night. This higher, Level 3 risk includes Huntsville, Cullman, Fayette, Jasper, Aliceville, Hamilton, Double Springs, Moulton, Hartselle, Decatur, Russellville, Muscle Shoals, and Florence in the northwestern part of Alabama. The main threat specifically for north Alabama will happen tomorrow evening into the overnight hours of Sunday night into early Monday morning.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – MONDAY… Thunderstorms will approach south Alabama and northwest Florida from the northwest on Monday morning. Storms will likely be in progress before sunrise across parts of central Mississippi and central Alabama. This line or complex of thunderstorms will enter Clarke and Washington counties in west Alabama first before gradually moving across our region throughout the day on Monday. 6AM to 6PM Monday is the twelve hour window for strong to severe storms across south Alabama and northwest Florida on Monday, meaning this will very likely exclusively be a problem during the DAYTIME hours. That is a nice change, right? We have had far too many overnight severe weather events in the last few years. This one looks to happen during the day on Monday. Main window in the 6AM-6PM slot will be from 10AM to 4PM. Have a way to hear warnings on Monday!
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 will have updates posted throughout the night, as needed in the RedZone Weather app. In addition, I will have many updates posted throughout the day on Sunday.
Have a nice Saturday night!
