Moderate Risk Area Expanded into Parts of Alabama

The new Day One Severe Weather Outlook from the Storm Prediction Center expands the Moderate and Enhanced Risks across Alabama for today and tonight.

Here is the latest Outlook graphic:

As you can see, much of the western half of the state is now in the enhanced (3/5 on the scale) risk area, with a small part of Sumter, Choctaw, and Washington Counties in the Moderate (4/5) risk area.

There is 10% probability of a tornado within 25 miles of any point in the Moderate Risk area, with a much higher risk for damaging winds (45%). The forecasters have hatched the damaging wind risk areas indicating the threat of hurricane-force gusts and the possibility of a derecho forming to the west of Alabama overnight. Derechos are long-lived, widespread high wind events that can produce a lot of damage.

There is a 15% chance of large hail within 25 miles of a point across much of Alabama. There will be some impressive large hail reports today in Alabama, with plenty of cold air aloft, but the really big hail reports should stay back to the west of us, over eastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas, southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, and into western Mississippi.

It is a very complex weather situation across the South today and tonight. It will be important that you have multiple ways to receive warnings and be able to be awakened by them during the night. Please take severe thunderstorm warnings seriously as severe thunderstorms can knock down trees that can cause severe damage to your home and injure or kill you. Be ready to go to your safe place if a warning is issued for your location.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Severe Weather