Why your weather service radio may not work during Alabama’s overnight severe storms tomorrow
The National Weather Service office in Birmingham will be undergoing a software upgrade over the next few days, and unfortunately severe weather is in the forecast during that time.
The weather service said that watches and warnings will still go out as usual and there will be plenty of eyes on the sky.
However, all NOAA Weather Radio transmitters run by the Birmingham NWS office will be off the air during that time and only broadcasting a recorded message.
The weather service cautioned that now — more than ever — it’s important for the public to have not one but multiple ways to get severe weather warnings over the next few days.
Those methods could include weather apps, local emergency management, TV/radio/Internet alerts and weather-savvy friends and family.
The Birmingham NWS office covers all of central Alabama (areas in light gray in the map below):
Alabama is covered by four different NWS offices. The counties in gray are monitored by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham.NWS
The weather service on Monday began what it said was a required, scheduled update to its Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (otherwise known as AWIPS).
It was scheduled to start this morning at 8 a.m. and last through Wednesday.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting Level 3 and 2 severe weather risks on Tuesday for central Alabama, as well as other parts of the state.
Strong to severe storms will be possible from the afternoon through the nighttime hours. Damaging winds, hail and a tornado or two will be possible.
Here is the severe weather outlook for Tuesday:
A Level 3 out of 5 (enhanced) risk for severe weather on Tuesday has been expanded and now includes all of north Alabama and a chunk of central Alabama.Storm Prediction Center
But watches and warnings won’t be delayed during that time. The weather service said another NWS office in Peachtree City, Ga., will be assisting with forecast operations during the process.
“No impacts to our core services of forecast products and weather watches, warnings and advisories are expected during this period,” the weather service said in a message to stakeholders.
However, the weather service cautioned that “all NOAA Radio transmitters maintained by NWS Birmingham will be off the air through the time of the install.”
This includes these transmitters: Winfield, Oneonta, Birmingham, Anniston, Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Selma, Montgomery, Auburn and Texasville.
Here are the transmitters that will be offline through Wednesday:
Here are the NWS weather transmitters across central Alabama that will be offline because of computer upgrades through Wednesday.NWS
The upgrade is scheduled to be complete on Wednesday, just in time for calmer weather to round out the work week.