A Brief Update On Our Weather At 9:30 AM; Line Of Storms Approaching Birmingham

NWS Birmingham just cancelled the Tornado Watch for Hale, Marengo, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston counties, leaving Autauga, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Jefferson, Lowndes, Montgomery, Perry, and Shelby counties in the watch until 1:00 PM this afternoon.

The main line of stronger storms is now approaching the Birmingham Metropolitan Area. We can expect some gusty winds and heavy rain when it moves through, but there is no severe warnings at this time.

Light to moderate rain out ahead of the QLCS in the northern half of the state has been the limiting factor for the development of any stronger to severe storms. The southern half of the state hasn’t had the rainfall out ahead of the QLCS to stabilize the air. That is why the instability values are higher and storms are stronger in the south.

With that being said, instability values are starting to rise over the central parts of the area, as CAPE is now in the 100-300 J/kg range, up from the 100-200 J/kg that was shown just 45 minutes earlier. There is still plenty of shear in the area, as 0-1km Helicity values are in the 250-550 m2s2 range. The good news is most of that is behind the main line of storms. There is enough along and just ahead of the line to worry about a few brief spin-up tornadoes along with the potential for damaging wind gusts in embedded bowing segments.

SPC continues to have much of Central Alabama in a Slight Risk of severe storms through the day, with a Marginal Risk immediately surrounding the slight risk.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS