STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE NEAR BEACHES ON WEDNESDAY… The Storm Prediction Center has introduced a Level 1 (out of 5), low-end severe weather risk zone for our coastal communities valid for Wednesday. Most of us will experience rain showers throughout the day on Wednesday with a line of stronger storms moving by in the evening hours. The concern is that there could be a few discrete cells out ahead of the main line that “go severe” and produce brief damaging wind gusts or perhaps a brief tornado. Inland areas, generally north of I-10, have little to no severe weather risk on Wednesday.
LOCATIONS OF LEVEL 1 RISK… The Storm Prediction Center now has our local coastal areas in their Level 1 (out of 5) low-end severe weather risk zone valid for Wednesday. The following communities are included in this low-end risk area: Pensacola, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Fairhope, Coden, Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, Foley, Magnolia Springs, Point Clear, Silverhill, Robertsdale, Summerdale, Elberta, Barrineau Park, Molino, Cantonment, Ensley, Gonzalez, Whiting Field, Milton, Pace, Warrington, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Crestview, Holt, Harold, Niceville, Eglin AFB, Mary Esther, De Funiak Springs, Freeport, Seaside, Port St. Joe, Panama City, and Mexico Beach.
SEVERE RISK NEAR ZERO FARTHER INLAND… Severe weather is not expected at this point for any of our inland communities. There could be some lightning and thunder but instability values will very likely be low enough that severe weather does not happen. The higher instability values will be confined to areas near the coast.
STORM TIMING… Rain will be possible throughout the day on Wednesday, into this evening, and into the overnight hours before clearing out early Thursday morning. The core of the low-end severe weather risk will be from 2PM to 9PM on Wednesday. We encourage everyone to have a way to receive urgent weather warnings even though this is a low-end risk. Smartphone apps (including our RedZone Weather app!) are great, as is NOAA Weather Radio. You’ve got to be able to GET the warnings first and then DO something if/when your location goes under a warning.
Keep the rain gear handy throughout the day on Wednesday. If we have tornado warnings, I’ll be providing live streaming coverage per our usual policy.
Have a great evening!