Sunday Evening Look At The Alabama Severe Weather Threat
Weather parameters will come together for the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms across North Alabama late tomorrow night and early Tuesday morning.
We should mention that rain now covers much of North and West Alabama… this doesn’t have anything to do with the severe weather threat tomorrow night, and no severe storms are expected tonight. Just good ole fashioned rain.
PLACEMENT: The SPC outlook was adjusted slightly at midday today… the “enhanced risk” (level 3/5) of severe storms is north of a line from Sulligent to Arley to Huntsville. The standard “slight risk” (level 2/5) extends as far south as York, Greensboro, Hoover, and Piedmont. A “marginal risk” (level 1/5) is defined down to Grove Hill, Greenville, and Auburn.
TIMING: The main window for severe thunderstorms will come from 10:00 p.m. Monday though 5:00 a.m. Tuesday. Storm will enter Northwest Alabama Monday night, and progress southeast overnight. Storms could linger until 9:00 a.m. for far East Alabama; SPC has a “slight risk” (level 2/5) defined there on their “Day Three” outlook, which valid after 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Storms should be out of Alabama completely by mid-morning Tuesday; the rest of Election Day in our state should be dry with a clearing sky by afternoon.
THREATS: Thunderstorms could produce damaging winds and a few tornadoes. In the “enhanced risk” over Northwest Alabama, a strong tornado is are possible. We do not expect any flooding issues since the storms will be moving along at a good clip; rain amounts around 1 inch are likely. Some hail is possible as well.
CALL TO ACTION: We are in our late fall tornado season in Alabama (November/December), so now is the time to be sure you are ready for what the atmosphere will deliver tomorrow night/Tuesday morning, and for the rest of year.
*Every Alabama home needs a NOAA Weather Radio, properly programmed, and with a good battery backup. You can find them at many local retail stores. And, you can program them… see this video from our meteorologist Charles Daniel for easy instructions. If you already have one, change the battery tonight when you set the clocks back one hour.
*Your second way of getting a warning is your smart phone. Be sure WEA (Wireless Emergency Alerts”) notifications are enabled… go to “settings”, “notifications”, and at the bottom your will see the options for “government alerts”. This has NOTHING to do with politics; be sure “emergency alerts” is enabled to receive tornado and flash flood warnings. Also have a good app designed for warnings on your phone, like this one.
*Get the ABC 33/40 mobile app on your phone so you can continue to watch our live coverage in your safe place.
Get the iOS version (for iPhones/iPads) here.
*Know where are you going. Your safe place is a small room (bathroom, closet, hallway) on the lowest floor, away from windows, and near the center of the home or building. If you live in a mobile home, you have to leave if you are in a tornado warning polygon. Know the location of a shelter that is available 24 hours, and be ready to get there quickly. Remember, a good part of this severe weather event early next week will be in the middle of the night.
*In your safe place, have helmets (bicycle or batting helmets are great) for everyone in the family, NOT just the kids. Also, everyone needs a portable air horn (if you need help first responders can hear them), and hard sole shoes (if you have to walk over a tornado debris field to get help). Portable chargers for your cell phones are also important so you can stay in touch and watch our severe weather coverage.
*Will this be like April 27, 2011? Long time readers know I am not a fan of this question. Events like that are generational; they tend to happen every 40 years. If there is only one tornado in the state, and if it comes down your street, then that is YOUR April 27. We have to be ready for every severe weather threat.
*We don’t share this information to panic anyone, or make you anxious, but this is simply information you need to make plans to keep you and your family safe. Hopefully, we get away with just a line of strong storms with little damage, but you have to be prepared for a rough night.
Forecast changes are still possible, so keep an eye on the blog for updates tomorrow!
Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Severe Weather
About the Author (Author Profile)
James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.Subscribe
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