A Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe weather is still in the forecast for part of southwest Alabama today (Wednesday).

The rest of the state has the potential to see strong to severe storms as well, according to forecasters.

Tornadoes (some of them strong ones), wind gusts up to 70 mph and heavy rain will be possible with the strongest storms today.

And the National Weather Service remained concerned about the potential for flash flooding, with some areas potentially getting up to 4 inches of additional rain before this system moves out. A flood watch will be in effect today for parts of central and south Alabama.

Here’s the forecast for rain:

The timing for storms to arrive has been moved up a bit earlier, and forecasters cautioned that some uncertainties still remained. Storms were affecting Mississippi as of Wednesday morning, and a tornado watch was in effect for that state all the way to Alabama’s western border (but doesn’t include Alabama).

Southwest Alabama, the spot that could see storms first, could be facing them during the late morning at the earliest. The arrival times for storms in the western part of central and north Alabama could be a few hours later. Timing estimates from the weather service are at the bottom of this post.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has maintained a Level 4 out of 5, or moderate, risk for part of southwest Alabama today. A Level 4 risk means that numerous severe storms are expected.

The Storm Prediction Center has most of the rest of south Alabama and the southern part of central Alabama in a Level 3 (enhanced) severe weather risk, which means scattered to numerous severe storms will be possible.

Nearly all of the rest of Alabama has a Level 2 risk from the SPC, which means scattered severe storms will be possible.

It should be noted, however, that Alabama’s National Weather Service offices have forecasts that differ some from the SPC. Local forecasters aren’t sold on the all the parameters for severe weather lining up for widespread severe weather in north and north-central Alabama.

The weather service office in Birmingham has this forecast for central Alabama, which has part of the region in a Level 1 risk instead of a Level 2:

That’s not to say those areas won’t get severe weather; it still could be possible. But storms could be more isolated today.

The weather service remained concerned about the possibility of flash flooding across the state. Some parts of Alabama could get up to 4 inches of rain before the system moves out on Thursday.

Flood watches will go into effect today for parts of central and south Alabama.

The weather service also said today should be a windy one — even before the storms arrive. Wind advisories will be in effect today and tonight for parts of south Alabama.

Here’s a look at what the National Weather Service offices across Alabama were thinking on Wednesday:

SOUTH ALABAMA

CENTRAL ALABAMA

NORTH ALABAMA