Be Weather Aware This Afternoon and Tonight

UPDATE 10:50 AM
The SPC just issued a mesoscale discussion for the area from Kentucky down into Alabama for the threat of severe weather including the high likelihood that a watch will be coming shortly.

ORIGINAL POST
A very atypical severe weather situation is being set up across much of North and Central Alabama for this afternoon and tonight. Damaging winds and hail will be the primary threats, and we will have to be alert for tornadoes as well.

Click image to enlarge.

Here is the situation:

…A slow moving, rather benign area of rain and thunderstorms covers much of eastern Mississippi this morning. It is moving into Alabama at this hour.

…Instabilities are increasing across the state as temperatures warm through the 70s heading toward the 80s. Sunshine is increasing as evidenced by visible satellite imagery. The storms will begin to increase again as they encounter this increasing instability.

…Mid level winds are fairly strong (40-50 mph), and this will allow storms to become organized as they intensify.

…There is a surface low over Arkansas that will deepen as it moves east slowly today. This introduces the threat of tornadoes.

THE THREATS
…HEAVY RAIN
The slow moving nature of the system will combine with high moisture content to produce general rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches. A flash flood watch is in effect generally along and north of I-59.
…HIGH WINDS
The main threat this afternoon and tonight will be for damaging winds. Stronger storms will down trees and power lines. We are not expecting widespread damaging winds, but there will be lots of local reports of downed trees and power outages.
…HAIL
As instabilities rise, large hail will be a problem in some spots.
…TORNADOES
As the surface low moves east, the southeasterly flow ahead of it will impart low level spin, which will result in some tornadoes today and tonight across Alabama. Look for tornado watches and warnings today and tonight.

BE WEATHER AWARE TODAY AND TONIGHT
We are not used to having to worry about severe weather, especially tornadoes, in Alabama in June, so make sure you think preparedness and awareness. Have a way to get warnings, watch the sky, know your safe place and don’t forget the adage, Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

Category: Alabama's Weather, Severe Weather