2 tornado watches in effect for Alabama; severe storms moving across the state - AL.com

The severe weather event that forecasters have been warning about for nearly a week is here.

Widespread severe weather has already been reported today in Alabama, and it’s not over yet, with damaging winds, tornadoes and heavy rain all still possible.

The National Weather Service urged Alabamians to make sure they have their severe weather plans in place today, which include having a safe place to take shelter ready to go and having at least two ways to get warnings quickly.

There are two tornado watches ongoing for Alabama. The first will be in effect until 1 p.m.:

The watch includes Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker and Winston counties.

There is now a second tornado watch. This one will be in effect until 4 p.m.

It includes Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox counties.

Forecasters continued to watch a line of intense storms advance eastward through Alabama on Saturday.

There have been multiple severe thunderstorm warnings and a few tornado warnings issued as of noon today.

The weather service in Birmingham said a confirmed tornado had been identified in Pickens County last hour and that local emergency managers were responding to calls about damage in the Carrollton area.

In addition a line of storms that spanned multiple counties was could produce winds up to 70 mph, according to the weather service.

The Storm Prediction Center said the greatest threat for damaging winds or a tornado will be over western Alabama for the next few hours:

The weather service offices from Huntsville to Birmingham to Mobile were starting to get reports of downed trees from strong winds as of Saturday morning well ahead of the line.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center updated its severe weather outlook earlier today and put nearly all of Alabama in an enhanced risk for severe weather. The only exception is the extreme northeast corner of the state, which has a slight risk.

An enhanced risk means numerous severe storms will be possible; a slight risk means severe storms are still expected but they will be more scattered.

The National Weather Service continued to stress that severe weather will be possible statewide, no matter what color your risk area may be.

Tornadoes, high winds and heavy rain will all be possible today.

The weather service said tornadoes could develop very quickly within the line of storms, and a few strong tornadoes (EF2+) will also be possible.

Forecasters were especially concerned about the high wind potential — both before and during storms.

It will be windy today ahead of the main line of storms, and wind advisories are in effect for the entire state through tonight.

Winds could gust to up to 40 mph ahead of the storms, which could be enough to bring down limbs and power lines, the weather service said.

Winds with today’s severe storms could be even stronger — up to 70 mph, which could result in widespread damage.

The weather service urged Alabamians to take severe thunderstorm warnings seriously today for that reason and noted that widespread wind damage has been reported where the line has moved through.

“Severe thunderstorm warnings should also be treated seriously given the strong wind potential and potential for tornadoes to spin up with little lead time,” the weather service in Birmingham said in its Saturday morning forecast discussion, “and especially mobile home residents and those with many trees near their home should consider moving to a safe place even for severe thunderstorm warnings.”

Forecasters said the squall line could intensify as it moves into Alabama this morning.

Scattered showers were also moving across parts of the state on Saturday morning, but forecasters don’t think they will have much of a stabilizing influence on the atmosphere when storms arrive later today.

Temperatures are forecast to be way above average today, with highs climbing into the 70s — even mid-70s in some areas — and dew points in the 60s. Combine those with the intense storm system to the west, strong winds higher in the atmosphere and abundant wind shear, the stage is still set for storms to become severe quickly.

Forecasters will be watching for the potential for supercell storms to develop ahead of the main line, but that threat appeared to lessen some for much of the state. The exception will be for those in south Alabama, where some models suggest supercell development will still be possible.

But the squall line is expected to be the “main show,” the weather service said.

Drier and slightly cooler weather will follow today’s storms on Sunday, but temperatures are expected to stay above average for January.

However that won’t last long: More rain and storms will be possible early next week as well.

2020-01-11 12:13:00Z
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