Strong/Severe Storms Tomorrow, Then Sharply Colder
CLOUDS MOVING IN: Clouds will continue to increase across Alabama this evening, and scattered showers are possible statewide tonight. Then, tomorrow, with the approach of a cold front, a line of strong thunderstorms will move across the state. SPC has defined a “slight risk” (level 2/5) for areas south of I-59 (south of a line from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Gadsden), with a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) north to the Tennessee state line.
TIMING: The line of storms will enter the northwest corner of the state early tomorrow morning, around 6-7 a.m. It will reach the I-59 corridor (Tuscaloosa/Birmingham/Gadsden) around 12:00 noon, then moving to near Montgomery around 3:00 p.m. The line will be close to Dothan by 5-6 p.m.
THREATS: The main threat will come from strong, potentially damaging straight line winds. Keep in mind with saturated soil conditions, trees could come down easily where winds exceed 40/50 mph. Also, some small hail is possible. A brief, isolated tornado is possible, but not especially likely.
FLOODING: A flash flood watch is in effect along and north of a line from Millport to Birmingham to Ranburne. Rain amounts could exceed one inch across North Alabama, and with saturated soil conditions some flooding issues could develop.
TEMPERATURE DROP: Once the line of storms passes, temperatures will drop from the 70s into the 40s in a short amount of time with a brisk north wind. Be ready for the change; it will feel cold over North Alabama tomorrow afternoon.
LATE SEASON FREEZE: It is possible some locations over the northern half of the state will experience a freeze Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. The coldest morning will be Friday when the wind will be calm; most communities will drop into the 20s. The weather will be dry Thursday through the weekend with sunny days and clear nights… the high Thursday and Friday will be in the 55-59 degree range, followed by mid 60s Saturday, and mid 70s Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: The weather stays dry Monday and Tuesday with the warming trend continuing… new global model data suggests rain could return as early as Tuesday night and Wednesday. Too early to know if severe storms will be an issue… See the Weather Xtreme video for maps, graphics, and more details.
SURVEY UPDATE: NWS Birmingham has confirmed ten tornadoes in their County Warning Area (CWA) last Thursday. Four of them were rated EF-3. One of them was on the ground for 80 miles… it first touched down near Sawyerville in Hale County, and lifted near Wilsonville. The path was very similar to the May 27, 1973 tornado… both hit the NWS radar site near Brent (it was decommissioned in the mid 1990s).
ON THIS DATE IN 1805: New York’s City’s Battery Park was strewn with 24-inch snow rollers, from a ferocious storm between the March 26th and March 28th. Snow rollers are natural snowballs that are formed when winds blow over a snow-covered surface.
BEACH FORECAST: Click here to see the AlabamaWx Beach Forecast Center page.
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Look for the next Weather Xtreme video here by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow…
Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Weather Xtreme Videos
About the Author (Author Profile)
James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.Subscribe
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