ISOLATED STRONG STORMS FRIDAY; END OF HURRICANE SEASON TODAY… Cloud coverage is set to increase across the region on this Thursday. Temperatures will be a bit warmer than the last few days with most spots reaching the low-60s this afternoon. Rain and thunderstorms will set up to our west today. There is an enhanced tornado risk today across parts of east Texas. This same weather system will move toward our local area in the overnight hours and into Friday. A low-end risk of a few stronger storms is in place for all of south Alabama and northwest Florida tomorrow (Friday). Rain and storms will likely persist into the weekend.
LEVEL 3 (OUT OF 5) TORNADO RISK ACROSS PARTS OF EAST TEXAS TODAY… The Storm Prediction Center has included parts of east Texas in their Level 3 (out of 5) enhanced severe weather risk today, driven by the potential for a few tornadoes. Please be aware of this if you’re traveling toward western Louisiana or eastern Texas today. This same weather system will move east this evening into tonight and ultimately cross our local area tomorrow morning.
LOW-END SEVERE WEATHER RISK LOCALLY ON FRIDAY… The entirety of south Alabama and northwest Florida is involved in the low-end, Level 1 (out of 5) severe weather risk zone valid on Friday. This means that widespread, significant severe storms are unlikely BUT one or two isolated severe storms will be possible. Most of us tomorrow will simply have rain at times. A tornado or two cannot completely be ruled out. Have a way to hear weather warnings tomorrow just in case your specific location goes under a tornado warning. Damaging wind gusts will also be possible in the strongest of the storms.
RAIN AND STORMS LIKELY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY… Severe storms likely won’t be as much of a concern on Saturday or Sunday compared with Friday but what will be a concern is the risk of flash flooding, especially if heavy rain and thunderstorms train over the same areas this weekend. Heavy rain is likely at times, particularly closer to the Alabama and northwest Florida beaches.
THE 2023 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON ENDS TODAY… We made it through the hurricane season with NO local impacts from tropical storms or hurricanes, thankfully. The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season featured 21 tropical storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. The strongest storm to directly make landfall in the continental United States was Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida. A majority of the named storms this year happened in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The 2023 season ends today. The next Atlantic Hurricane Season will kick off on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
APP… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the large, yellow Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
See all the details in your Thursday morning RedZone Weather forecast video. Have a great day!