Severe Storms, Tornadoes Possible Thursday
Severe weather is once again in the forecast for Alabama. The National Weather Service in Birmingham has placed much of our listening area under a "slight" risk for storms Thursday. Damaging winds of up to 60 miles an hour and quarter size hail are possible as well as isolated tornadoes.
Here's more on the threat of storms from ABC 33/40 Chief Meteorologist James Spann:
Another dynamic weather system will bring a severe weather threat to Alabama Thursday. Rain and storms should enter the state late tomorrow night, after midnight. These storms will be potentially strong to severe, but they will most likely be elevated. SPC has a low end severe weather risk (marginal to slight) over the western half of the state for the early morning activity.
Then, during the day Thursday, SPC has defined an “enhanced risk” (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms for most of the state from Birmingham south and east. There is a “slight risk” (level 2/5) as far north as Vernon, Guntersville, and Fort Payne, and a “marginal risk” (level 1/5) up to the Tennessee state line.
Confidence is high in the threat of severe thunderstorms over the southern third of the state during the day Thursday, where the air will be very unstable and wind fields will be strong, The threat to North Alabama is more conditional; it all depends on how the morning round of storms plays out, the northward extent of the unstable air, and any small scale boundaries left over.
Storms over South Alabama Thursday will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. A few strong (EF2 or higher) tornadoes can’t be ruled out. We will have much better clarity on timing this afternoon after the 12Z model set arrives. But it will be day when you want to hear all severe weather warnings (including severe thunderstorm warnings), and have your action plan ready if you are in a polygon.
For a more in-depth look at the forecast, check out the latest ABC 33/40 Weather Xtreme video below.