Alabama Update at 2:55 pm

A severe thunderstorm over Blountsville in Blount County is moving ENE. Will affect areas from Blountsville to Snead to Walnut Grove. It has a trailing compnent that extends back down to Blount Springs, and these storms will sweep the rest of the polygon, including Nectar, Cleveland, Oneonta. This storm will eventually impact the Gadsden/Attalla area.

Core of the Walker County storm is north of Jasper now. Strong indications of hail there.

High probability of damaging winds for both of these warnings.

Two new warnings for a large swath in front of the storms now that extend from the Georgia border to the Mississippi State Line. These storms are slowly dropping southeast while the individual cells move east northeast. With a training effect set up, flooding could become a problem.

Damaging winds will be the main problem however. The storms will continue to eat into a hot, moist, and extremely unstable airmass across Central Alabama.

The 18z (1 pm) balloon launch from the NWS Birmingham showed 5493 joules of CAPE. You read that right, 5493 joules. Effective shear of 35 knots is decent for any time of year, but off the charts for August. Not much helicity, which is great, as it limits the tornado potential. Lots of dry air aloft allowing for downdrafts, and downdraft CAPE of 1148 joules, which is high. Precipitable water values are high at 1.86 inches.

With decent wind shear, the storms will continue to be organized. Damaging winds will be likely.

It looks like the main line could reach northern portions of the Birmingham Metro by 3:15 and downtown by 3:45 pm.

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