Severe Storms Thursday Eve Through Lunch on Friday… Wednesday Morning Update 8:30am

Good Wednesday morning to you! We have a few active storms move through the area lastnight, which was in response to a weak upper air disturbance. A few reports of wind damage came in around midnight for the Birmingham area. These storms are long gone today, but most spots didn’t get a drop yesterday evening or lastnight. If you didn’t get rain, your odds will increase by tomorrow evening. Above is the latest day 2 outlook from the Storm Prediction Center. A slight risk of severe storms have been issued for all of our area, including all areas north and west of Montgomery.  While the risk is slight, there is an enhanced risk over parts of our area. Check the map below.

The map above shows the percent chance of severe weather within 25 miles of a point. All areas under the slight risk is at the general 15%, but parts of our area are under a 30%, which is rather concerning. The enhanced risk includes areas north and west of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. The cities of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa area just south of the enhanced risk, but everyone to the north and west are within it. With a 30% risk on a day 2 outlook, it’s not out of the question that some parts of the area could be included in a moderate risk at some point tomorrow.

What to expect: Showers and storms will become likely tomorrow evening and night ahead of a cold front. The best lift and shear will be north of Alabama, so that will limit the tornado threat to the very low range, but an isolated tornado is possible. The main threat will be in the form of damaging winds and hail, but a stray small tornado can’t be ruled out. Stay severe weather alert anytime Thursday evening through lunch on Friday. As you know, we’ll be updating facebook, twitter and the blog all night if severe weather is in the area. If a tornado warning is issued, you can catch me on WVUA-TV for coverage.

Other, non severe, threats include lots of lightning and heavy rain. Ponding on the highways can cause problems when driving, and lightning is a weather killer. Go inside if a storm moves through your area.

Again, this is not a major severe weather threat, but some storms will grow out of hand. Damaging winds and hail are the primary concern. This will mainly occur between 6pm Thursday and noon on Friday. A few early afternoon storms are possible on Thursday, but the more organized storms arrive after sunset.

The cold front will move through the state sometime around lunch on Friday. Showers and storms will end from west to east through the midday hours. Nice weather will move in over the weekend, with highs in the lower to middle 80s on Saturday and lots of sun. Humidity will drop in time for the weekend as well, so that will be a nice break.

Send us your weather pictures! Send them to weather@wvuatv.com. Also, look us up on facebook and twitter. Like us on facebook by searching facebook.com/wvuaweather. You can find us on twitter by searching weather@wvuatv.com or WVUA-TV Weather. Great way to get weather updates! Plus, facebook is a great way to send us weather pictures. Simply tag us!

Also, join us live on WVUA-TV weekdays at 4, 5, 6 and 10 pm and weekends at 10pm for the very latest on your news, weather and sports.

Richard Scott

WVUA Chief Meteorologist

rscott@wvuatv.com