Showers and Strong to Severe Storms Affect Areas Along/South of I-20 Into the Evening

A cluster of showers and storms is moving across Southwest Alabama extending back into Central Mississippi this afternoon.

A cold front has pushed into Central Alabama and is becoming stationary. This front lies south of Birmingham.

The showers and storms will continue to push eastward through the afternoon and evening, staying mainly south of and along I-20. North of the front, a few lighter showers will be possible.

Severe weather is possible generally south of the US-78/280 Corridor from Hamilton to Birmingham to Lanett. But the best threat will be over the southern half of the state, generally south of a line from Demopolis to Prattville to Auburn.

After this passes, the overnight should be calm, with lows in the 50s north and lower 60s along and south of the front.

James has covered the severe threat very well in his noon post, but the long and short of it is that we do have a significant severe weather threat for Monday across Alabama.

A warm front will come northward during the morning as a low moves from Arkansas to Tennessee. A cold front will approach Alabama Monday evening. Alabama will be in the warm sector of the low, with temperatures in the 70s and dew points in the 60s, setting the stage for moderate instability. Wind shear should be moderately strong as well, making organized storms possible. Moderately strong lapse rates will make large hail possible, and low level helicity will be sufficient for tornadoes.

The greatest threat appears that it will be between 3 p.m. and midnight. All of Central Alabama is included in the threat.

Now is the time to make sure that you are in a severe weather mindset. Review your severe weather safety plan, with should include the following:

• A way to receive warnings
• A place to shelter anywhere you will be, and altering plans if there is no sufficient shelter
• Having a basic safety kit, including shoes, ID, a noise device and helmets
• A family communications plan

Now is not the time to panic or spread hype in your social media circles. Do be a weather-ready ambassador and let friends and family members know about the threat so they can prepare too.

We will have frequent updates on this evolving situation throughout the event. Stay with the Alabama Weather Blog for the very latest.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS