Severe storms, tornado possible in Alabama this weekend and into next week
Alabama will face the potential for severe weather every day from Friday through Monday, according to forecasters.
And possibly beyond that.
Damaging winds are the main concern each day, according to the National Weather Service, but there will also be low chances for hail and a tornado.
Several rounds of heavy rain could also lead to flooding in some areas.
Friday’s storms could begin to affect the state this afternoon and will be possible through the nighttime hours.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a Level 2 out of 5 (slight) risk for severe weather for north and north-central Alabama for Friday.
The Level 2 risk covers areas from roughly Birmingham and Anniston northward to the Tennessee state line.
Those areas could have to deal with scattered severe storms today and tonight.
The rest of central Alabama and part of south Alabama have a Level 1 (marginal) risk for severe weather. Isolated severe storms will be possible in those areas.
The Level 1 risk area includes spots south of Birmingham to the Troy and Greenville areas.
Most of south Alabama is not expected to have severe storms today, but rain and regular thunderstorms will be possible.
SATURDAY
On Saturday there will be a Level 2 risk for severe weather from areas including Troy and Greenville northward. Most of the rest of south Alabama will also have a Level 1 risk.SPC
On Saturday a larger area in Alabama will have a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Storms again will be the most likely from the afternoon into the evening hours.
The Level 2 risk area on Saturday runs from roughly Troy and Greenville northward to the Tennessee state line.
Most of the rest of south Alabama will have a Level 1 risk o Saturday. Only coastal areas in Alabama are not in the Level 1 risk area.
The National Weather Service thinks that damaging winds will again be the main concern with storms on Saturday, but the Storm Prediction Center has added a low risk for a tornado for part of north and north-central Alabama:
There will be a low risk for a tornado on Saturday in the areas in dark green.SPC
SUNDAY
The southeast corner of Alabama will have a Level 2 risk for severe weather on Sunday. The rest of the state will have a Level 1 risk.SPC
On Sunday the southeast corner of Alabama will have another Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather.
The rest of the state will have a Level 1 risk, which means isolated severe storms will be possible.
Storms again will be most likely during the afternoon and evening hours.
MONDAY AND BEYOND
Most of central and south Alabama will have yet another risk for severe weather on Monday.SPC
Yet another round of storms will be possible on Monday in a large area in Alabama.
The Storm Prediction Center has a Level 2 risk in the forecast for most of central and south Alabama for Monday.
As of now, north Alabama isn’t included in the risk area, but that could change over the weekend.
The National Weather Service said additional storms will be possible in parts of Alabama on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Details on those forecasts will become more clear in the coming days.
Here’s more from the National Weather Service:
NORTH ALABAMA
CENTRAL ALABAMA
SOUTH ALABAMA
Here are Friday’s rain chances for south and southwest Alabama.NWS