Watch Coming Soon for Portions of North/Central Alabama

As of 6:16 pm, storms continue to move southeastward just to the north and west of Alabama, with several of those storms currently severe with the potential of damaging wind gusts and large hail. We are probably about 30–60 minutes away from parts of North/Central Alabama going under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Here is the latest text from the SPC:

Probability of Watch Issuance…95 percent

SUMMARY… Thunderstorms capable of damaging gusts and hail are expected to spread southeast into northern Alabama, southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia this evening. A severe thunderstorm watch will likely be needed soon.

DISCUSSION… Bands of strong to severe thunderstorms over Middle TN are expected to continue to spread southeast into northern AL/northwest GA over the next few hours. Some modest increase in vertical shear is expected through evening, amid moderate instability (1500-2500 J/kg MLCAPE). Semi-discrete cells will pose a risk for large hail, given lengthening hodographs with time. A modest low-level jet is also forecast to increase to around 25-30 kt this evening, and some upscale development into bowing/forward propagating clusters. An attendant increase in damaging wind potential will accompany convection in this scenario. A severe thunderstorm watch will likely be needed soon for portions of the MCD area.

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