Update 945 pm

The line of storms is now from near Nashville, to the NW corner of Alabama, to Jackson, MS, and is moving east near 50 mph.   The storms are ahead of schedule and continue to accelerate.  They will move across much of NW Alabama over the next hour or so, and reach BHM metro by midnight. 

We have been talking about the high wind threat.  There could be some small tornadoes also, but we are mainly worried about widespread damaging wind.  As the low to our north intensifies, the air can not adjust to balance fast enough, and accelerates northward toward the low, speeding up the southerly winds even more.  BMX Doppler VAD wind profiles show winds are already 58 mph at 2,000 feet and 81 mph at 5,000 ft.  These winds may actually increase a bit more due to the rapid pressure drops to our north.  Downdrafts with storms may bring some of this momentum to the ground.

As the storms come through, expect lightning, heavy rain, and wind gusts 40-50 mph most places.  Some locations will see gusts above 60 mph, and many already have in AR, TN, and MS.  Trees and power lines will come down.  A few tornadoes may also spin up.  As the storms come through, due to the danger posed by falling trees, it is safest to be in the basement, or if you don’t have one, in the NE corner of the house.

Category: Severe Weather