SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH TILL 1PM FOR ALL OF S.W. AL & N.W. FL; BE ABLE TO HEAR WARNINGS… A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 1PM for all local counties across southwest Alabama and northwest Florida ahead of an advancing, severe line of thunderstorms this morning. Several tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings have happened over the last few hours in southern Mississippi with this advancing line. Severe thunderstorms capable of producing widespread damaging wind gusts and tornadoes will be possible this morning into the early afternoon hours across south Alabama and northwest Florida. While it is possible that some of the more stable air generated by thunderstorms last evening helps to lower or mitigate the overall severe threat over our local area specifically, that is not a guarantee at this point. That would be a better case scenario than what we have been seeing for days with the potential existing for tornadoes and damaging wind gusts in the stronger storms. We encourage everyone to have more than one way to get urgent weather warnings over the next several hours. Please remember, even when I am not in live coverage, I am posting many updates in the RedZone Weather app. You can find the latest information in the RZW app and on redzoneweather.com throughout the day.
UPDATED: SEVERE WEATHER TIMING – TODAY… Thunderstorms are approaching south Alabama and northwest Florida from the northwest at this point. This complex of thunderstorms will enter Clarke and Washington counties in west Alabama first before gradually moving across our region throughout the day today. Now to 6PM today continues to be the window for strong to severe storms across south Alabama and northwest Florida, meaning this will very likely exclusively be a problem during the DAYTIME hours. Core threat window in the 6AM-6PM slot will be from 8AM to 2PM. Have a way to hear warnings today. I will be giving “all clear” messages by county in the RedZone Weather app throughout the day.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR NEARLY ALL OF ALABAMA & N.W. FLORIDA… A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is now in effect for 60 of 67 Alabama counties as of 7AM, with the exceptions being in the Wiregrass where a watch will likely be needed later. A Tornado Warning is in effect at the time I am writing this update at 6:50AM for parts of Lamar and Fayette counties in north Alabama. We’re also watching a confirmed tornado approaching Hattiesburg in southeast Mississippi at the time I am writing this. Everyone across the state and the region should have a way to hear warnings in the hours ahead.
DRIER WEATHER LATER THIS WEEK; STORMS THIS WEEKEND… Rain chances will be lower tomorrow (perhaps not entirely zero) but we are not expecting thunderstorms on Tuesday. High temperatures will be in the 80s on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Rain and storms will become possible late Saturday into Sunday.
A QUICK NOTE ABOUT A NATIONAL APP… I had a ton of questions last night about a “tornado warning near Pensacola and why we were not live.” There was never a tornado warning yesterday for Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Ferry Pass, Pace, or Milton. The only tornado warning we had locally yesterday was northeast of Bay Minette, including Dyas, Phillipsville, Pineville, and Perdido. A national weather vendor incorrectly sent out a tornado warning for southern Escambia (FL) and Santa Rosa counties last night. The National Weather Service never issued a tornado warning as there never was a threat. Warning text from storms well to our north in Tennessee and Arkansas somehow incorrectly triggered a warning in THEIR system for our local area. I have cautioned against using these completely automated weather apps for years. This is yet another example of why. I say that because I want people to be aware today that some of these national apps may send more erroneous/incorrect alerts. This very likely is not a malicious act, it’s “app coding gone wrong” on their part.
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.
We will “go live” if/when tornado warnings are needed today for southwest Alabama or northwest Florida. I will have updates posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. Have a nice Monday!