REMNANTS OF ARTHUR TO BRING HEAVY RAIN, POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING & TORNADOES TODAY INTO THIS EVENING… A rare High Risk of Flash Flooding is in place for part of the local area today along with a Level 2 (out of 5) risk of brief tornadoes. Heavy rain will be possible at times throughout the day on this Thursday. Flash flooding will quickly become a concern if/when thunderstorms train over the same areas. It won’t rain all day in every community and there is a good chance that some communities around the coast may remain mostly dry today ahead of a higher rain chance this evening. Brief, spin-up tornadoes will be possible throughout the day and into this evening. We encourage everyone to have multiple ways to hear warnings today into tonight. We will go into live tornado warning video coverage if warnings become needed locally. The greatest risk of flash flooding and tornadoes will probably happen across southwest Alabama.
TORNADO WATCH LIKELY COMING SOON… A Tornado Watch will likely be issued for part of the local area later this morning. A Tornado Watch is in place for southeast Mississippi and eastern Louisiana through 8AM. Please have a way to hear urgent weather warnings over the next several hours as brief, spin-up tornadoes will be possible.
POTENTIAL HAZARD: HEAVY RAIN & FLASH FLOODING… The biggest hazard of the next 24-48 hours will likely be heavy rain training over the same areas that leads to flash flooding. 5-10” of total rainfall will be possible in some spots across the region. A rare Level 4 (out of 4) HIGH RISK of flash flooding has been added for a portion of the local area today. These is a rare flash flood risk zone that points to serious issues today where flash flooding happens. Please heed flash flood warnings and NEVER attempt to drive over a water-covered roadway.
COASTAL HAZARDS CONTINUE… Double red flags are now flying at many local beaches meaning the Gulf is closed. Dangerous rip currents will continue to increase today with heavy rain and storms being likely across the northern Gulf in addition to land areas throughout the day and into this evening.
MINOR COASTAL FLOODING POSSIBLE… Minor coastal flooding will be possible through tonight and into Friday morning. The greatest risk of coastal flooding will likely happen near Mobile and the Causeway where coastal flooding of 1-2 feet may be possible. This type of flooding is capable of causing over wash on the Causeway. Very minor coastal flooding impacts could happen near Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Pensacola Beach. Widespread surge and major impacts are highly unlikely. Dangerous rip currents are expected at all local beaches through the weekend. Red flags will be flying at local beaches through Saturday.
HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE AT TIMES FRIDAY; POP-UP STORMS SATURDAY… Heavy rain and flash flooding will be likely at times on Friday, specifically across inland areas of southwest Alabama. A Flood Watch is in effect through Friday evening. I expect the overall coverage of storms to decrease on Saturday. Storms will be more pop-up style in nature, meaning “hit or miss” storms will be possible throughout the day. The same holds true for Sunday ahead of slightly lower rain chances coming Monday and Tuesday with hotter temperatures. High temperatures will be in the low 90s next week.
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 YouTube Live. 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 (AL), 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.
See all the details in your Thursday RedZone Weather forecast video. My next forecast video will be posted by 7:15AM tomorrow morning. I will have updates posted throughout the day, as needed, in the RedZone Weather app.
Have a great Thursday!
