Severe Thunderstorm Watch For West Central Alabama

LATE REPORT 10:55

The good news is that the storms on the eastern end of the arc near Tupelo are weakening and the impact to Lamar County will be minor. It appears that the system is turning more southward rather than southeastward and this would impact Mississippi more than West Central Alabama. But the caveat is that instabilities are in excess of 2,500 joules/kg in the US-82 Corridor from Lamar and Pickens Counties southeastward into Fayette and Tuscaloosa Counties.

ORIGINAL POST

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for West Central Alabama and eastern Mississippi until 5 p.m.

It includes Bibb, Dallas, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Marion, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa Counties.

An approaching upper level disturbance and its associated complex of thunderstorms is approaching western Alabama from the northwest. The storms are expected to increase in intensity through the late morning and into the afternoon as instability increase ahead of the system.

The storms extend along an arc from Tupelo to Houston to Grenada. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for areas from Tupelo to Smithville to Amory to Aberdeen. These storms will reach Lamar County just after 11 a.m.

In addition to the moderate instability, the wind shear ahead of the system is fairly strong, so there will be a decent threat of damaging winds.

Interestingly, there is also a good bit of low level helicity, which could indicate a tornado threat, but that helicity is expected to diminish as we go through the day.

There was a confirmed tornado in Pike and Russell Counties yesterday. NWS Survey Teams are investigating the damage and will report back today with specific details and a rating. Just a reminder than you can have tornadoes even in summer in Alabama.

Category: Alabama's Weather, Severe Weather