**STRONG TORNADOES POSSIBLE LOCALLY LATER TODAY**
LEVEL 4 RISK EXPANDED: STRONG TORNADOES POSSIBLE LATER TODAY INTO TONIGHT… Strong tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding will all be possible later today into tonight as a substantial severe weather risk sets up across the southern half of Alabama, northwest Florida, southern Mississippi, and southern Georgia. As of 7AM, the Storm Prediction Center maintains the Level 4 (out of 5) significant severe weather risk for all of our inland areas, now extending a bit farther south into the upper reaches of northwest Florida. 3PM this afternoon to 3AM Monday will be the 12 hour window when storms are most likely to happen. 6PM to 11PM will be our core risk time in south Alabama and northwest Florida. It is CRITICAL that you have multiple ways to receive urgent weather warnings over the next 24 hours! We will have live video coverage on Facebook and in the RedZone Weather app if and when tornado warnings become necessary across our local area. More forecast details are below.
GREATEST TORNADO RISK TODAY… The Storm Prediction Center notes in their latest discussion sent earlier this morning that ‘the greatest potential for a regional cluster of tornadoes is forecast from just southeast of Jackson, Mississippi and Hattiesburg, Mississippi eastward across southwest Alabama and south-central Alabama.” Obviously that is squarely in the middle of our inland communities. Strong, potentially long track, tornadoes will become possible this afternoon/evening and into the overnight hours. Damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding will also be possible. I am concerned the overall risk of flash flooding will be a bit more significant with this event compared to the Easter Sunday severe weather event. 1 to 3 inches of rainfall in total are expected across our area with the greater rain amounts likely happening inland.
SEVERE WEATHER TIMING… 3PM today to 3AM Monday will be the 12 hour window when storms will be most likely to happen. 6PM to 11PM Sunday will be the core risk time for south Alabama and northwest Florida. Storms could move into west Alabama as early as 3PM. More likely though, storms will move in around 5 or 6PM in the evening and progressively move across the region from west to east.
LEVEL 4 RISK EXPANDED LOCALLY… The Level 4 (out of 5) significant severe weather risk zone now extends a bit farther south compared to yesterday. Not all of these communities will have tornado issues, but there is a heightened chance that at least SOME will. These are the areas where strong tornadoes are MOST likely to happen. Note that even if you don’t see your specific town, if you see a town you’re near, odds are you’re in this risk area. The following communities are now involved in this significant severe weather risk zone where tornadoes will be most likely to happen: Andalusia, Opp, Florala, Straughn, Red Level, Pleasant Home, Florala, Onycha, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton, Atmore, Poarch, Huxford, Wallace, Appleton, Damascus, Bradley, Laurel Hill, Munson, Berrydale, Jay, Century, Bratt, Davisvillle, Evergreen, Lyeffion, Owassa, Castleberry, Range, Repton, Brooklyn, Bowles, Burnt Corn, Lenox, Greenville, Georgiana, McKenzie, Chapman, Forest Home, Monroeville, Uriah, Perdue Hill, Frisco City, Excel, Beatrice, Peterman, Tunnel Springs, Grove Hill, Thomasville, Jackson, Coffeeville, Whatley, Gainestown, Chatom, McIntosh, Wagerville, Leroy, Millry, Fruitdale, Vinegar Bend, Bay Minette, Stockton, Perdido, Mt. Vernon, Citronelle, Axis, Calvert, and Creola.
LEVEL 4 RISK AROUND THE REGION… The Level 4 significant risk is expansive across the Deep South today. The following places are included in this higher risk zone: Montgomery, Dothan, Troy, Auburn, Enterprise, Geneva, Samson, Elba, Daleville, Abbeville, Eufaula, Luverne, Hayneville, Union Springs, Tuskegee, Opelika, Beauregard, Valley, Lanett, Lake Martin, Wetumpka, Eclectic, Prattville, Clanton, Marion, Maplesville, Selma, Camden, Linden, Sweet Water, Dixons Mills, Livingston, York, Eutaw, Butler, Silas, Gilbertown, Macon (GA), Jackson (MS), Meridian (MS), Hattiesburg (MS), Monroe (LA), and surrounding areas.
LEVEL 3 RISK FOR MOST COASTAL COMMUNITIES… The Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk remains in place for many of our local coastal communities. These are the zones that still have a formidable chance of severe storms, including tornadoes and damaging winds: Mobile, Pensacola, Prichard, Saraland, Satsuma, Wilmer, Theodore, Bayou La Batre, Delchamps, Point Clear, Foley, Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Silverhill, Robertsdale, Summerdale, Loxley, Stapleton, Elberta, Warrington, Ensley, Gonzalez, Cantonment, Molino, Chumuckla, Milton, Pace, Whiting Field, Gulf Breeze, Harold, Holt, Baker, Crestview, Destin, Niceville, and Fort Walton Beach. We also note much of the Florida Panhandle region is involved in this Level 3 risk zone.
LEVEL 2 RISK FOR ALABAMA BEACHES… Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, and Dauphin Island are involved in the Level 2 slight risk where severe storms are still possible, but less likely.
HAVE THOSE HELMETS READY… Tornado helmets or makeshift helmets are absolutely critical in a severe weather event like this. NOW is the time to make a severe weather plan if you haven’t done so already. More info here.
BE THE HERO & SHARE INFO… The National Weather Service has launched an awareness campaign entitled, “Be The Hero.” The truth is you can absolutely be a hero and inform those folks around you that pay no attention to the world of weather. Sadly, there are some folks all around that have heard NOTHING about this significant severe weather threat setting up for tomorrow. The way we combat that is to “be the hero” and let your friends and family know about this risk. Call them, text them, tag them, pass it along to them, I really don’t care HOW you tell your folks as long as we make as many folks aware of this risk as possible.
WIND ADVISORY LOCALLY… All local areas are now involved in a Wind Advisory due to strong pressure-gradient winds expected out ahead of the severe storms today. This Wind Advisory means winds of 15-25 mph are expected with gusts as high as 30-35 mph. Today into tonight will be a breezy and windy just like last Sunday!
FLASH FLOOD WATCH INLAND… Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Wilcox, and Crenshaw counties (in addition to many counties across central Alabama) are under a Flash Flood Watch today into tonight due to the heightened potential for flash flooding in these areas.
WARM TEMPS MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY… We briefly get a break from the rain and storms on Monday and Tuesday ahead of more showers becoming possible late Wednesday ahead of another severe weather risk setting up for Thursday. High temperatures Monday through Wednesday will be in the mid-80s with morning lows in the upper-50s.
ANOTHER POTENT ROUND OF STORMS ON THURSDAY… There continues to be growing concern about yet another upcoming severe weather risk setting up for Thursday, April 23. That is four days out from today. Early weather model guidance points to the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms across the Deep South with a potential tornado risk involved. Let’s get through the event this evening and then we will start focusing our attention on Thursday. Note that it is not at all uncommon to have concurrent severe weather events “regularly” this time of year as we are going through the core of our primary severe weather season. Odds are we will have a warmer and quieter pattern as we get into the month of May.
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 in 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!
APP ALERTS… Now is the time, long before we get to this severe weather potential, to set up the RedZone Weather app on your smartphone! redzoneweather.com/app is the link where you can download the iOS or Android version of the app. Once you have the app downloaded to your device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner of the app), then tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
NEXT UPDATES… I will have many updates for you in the RedZone Weather app today. My next video will be later this afternoon/evening when we go live to discuss the severe weather situation. As always, if and when tornado warnings are required for our local area, we will go into nonstop live video coverage mode to bring you the very latest.
Have a nice Sunday and please stay safe! Have a way to get warnings!