Alabama’s severe weather risk expanded: Storms could bring tornadoes, near hurricane-force winds
An enhanced risk for severe weather is in the forecast for a larger part of Alabama starting late tonight. It will last through the overnight hours and into the day on Monday.
Tornadoes, near hurricane-force winds, hail and heavy rain will all be possible with the strongest storms, according to the National Weather Service.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has expanded a Level 3 out of 5 (or enhanced)S risk for severe weather for most of north and part of central Alabama tonight (areas in orange in the map at the top of this post).
A large part of south, central and east Alabama will also have a Level 3 risk on Monday.
Here’s the outlook for Monday:
A Level 3 risk for severe weather has been added for a large part of Alabama on Monday.SPC
A Level 3 risk means that numerous severe storms will be possible. A Level 2 risk means scattered severe storms will be possible. Level 1 means isolated severe storms are expected.
The weather service thinks that very strong, damaging winds will be the main concern with the storms, but tornadoes will be possible along the line as well.
The weather service thinks a few strong to severe storms could also be possible this afternoon, but the main event won’t arrive until the overnight hours.
The storms are expected to develop ahead of a cold front that will move in from the northwest late tonight.
The line will progress from west to east through the state overnight and into the day on Monday.
Storms could reach northwest Alabama anywhere from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m., but forecasters at the weather service in Huntsville think the most likely time they will reach northwest Alabama is around 1-3 a.m. Monday.
The weather service in Birmingham thinks storms could reach the northwestern part of central Alabama around 1 a.m. Monday and track eastward through late Monday morning.
The weather service in Mobile thinks storms could impact southwest Alabama starting late tonight.
Storms are expected to move out of Alabama later in the day on Monday, and calmer weather is expected on Tuesday.
However, there will be another risk for severe weather for north Alabama on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
The outlook for Wednesday:
More storms will be possible Wednesday in the areas in yellow.SPC
Here’s Thursday’s outlook:
Severe storms will be possible again in northwest Alabama on Thursday.SPC
Here’s more on the severe weather risk tonight and Monday from the weather service: