Cherokee County EMA officials met early Tuesday morning with emergency personnel from across the county in preparation for the likelihood of severe weather which could strike the area Wednesday. The possibility of tornados, high winds and hail is very real – with serious potential for damage being part of the package.
This unusual weather system is highly unpredictable, making it especially dangerous.
We’ll keep you updated with the latest word on the weather here on WEIS Radio.
No word yet on whether Cherokee County Schools will be closed on Wednesday.
Forecasters are gearing up for another possible severe weather event, one with a threat for bringing tornadoes and baseball sized hail to the state. A powerful storm system is expected to generate several rounds of storms across Alabama starting overnight with the best chances in the south and western portions of the state.
The National Weather Service said at this point it remains unclear just how widespread and intense the worst weather will be. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has placed a large part of the state under the risk of severe weather starting tonight, and upped the risk for Wednesday. April is the peak of Alabama’s prime severe weather season, and the ingredients will be there for “destructive and long-track tornadoes,” according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham. The weather service also cautioned that it could be a long-lived event with several rounds of storms possible.
Here’s a look at what to expect across Alabama
North Alabama
The weather service in Huntsville thinks the prime time for storms across north Alabama will be Wednesday afternoon. Additional rain and storms will be possible starting late tonight as well. Those storms could persist into the morning hours. Its the earlier rain and storms that are muddling the outlook, and the weather service cautioned that forecast uncertainty is still high.
The morning storms would have to clear out, and temperatures warm up enough again to have prime conditions for severe storms by the afternoon. Areas from roughly Huntsville to the east will have an enhanced risk of severe weather on Wednesday, with the main hazards being straight-line wind damage and large hail. The weather service also said a tornado or two will be possible.
Central Alabama
The weather service in Birmingham said a severe weather outbreak will be possible on Wednesday. It has put the eastern half of its forecast area into a moderate risk area (which differs some from the SPC’s risk areas). The weather service thinks the greatest risk of severe weather will exist tomorrow for areas including Gadsden and Anniston, eastern Birmingham and most of Shelby County, Alexander City, Talladega, Selma, Montgomery, Troy, Eufaula and Auburn.
Those areas could have a risk of long-track tornadoes, hail up to baseball size and damaging winds. Places to the west will have an enhanced risk, including Tuscaloosa, the western parts of Birmingham and Hamilton, among other areas. The weather service said there is lower confidence in the threats for those areas. Storms could impact central Alabama as early as 4 a.m. Wednesday and last through the day and into the evening, according to the weather service.
South Alabama
Severe storms could develop across southwest Alabama as early as midnight tonight, according to the weather service in Mobile. The risk will increase during the day on Wednesday, especially for central and eastern parts of south Alabama, where there will be a moderate risk. The weather service in Mobile said the most favorable time for storms will be Wednesday morning, and they could continue into the early afternoon. The hazards will include damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes.
The weather service said heavy rain could also raise the risk of localized flooding or even isolated instances of flash flooding. For southeast Alabama, the weather service in Tallahassee said the threat of storms will increase after daybreak on Wednesday, with storms moving across the area during the day and into the evening. The highest risk of tornadoes will come during the day on Wednesday.
(National Weather Service/al.com/www.al.com)