Tornado Watch issued for Mobile County, expansion to Northwest Florida expected A tornado watch has been issued for Mobile County, with the area expanding to include parts of Northwest Florida until 7 a.m. on Thursday. The Storm Prediction Center has placed the region under a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather due to a line of severe thunderstorms developing to the west and moving toward the Gulf Coast. The storm system is organized along a cold front stretching from the Midwest into Texas, with a surge of warm, humid Gulf air ahead of the system fueling thunderstorms over Louisiana. These storms are expected to strengthen and move east overnight, posing threats of damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and the potential for a few tornadoes, some of which could be strong. The timing of the storms indicates that the strongest part of the line will push east into Northwest Florida between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Thursday, with storms moving into southwest Alabama around midnight. While heavy rainfall is possible, the fast-moving nature of the storms is expected to limit overall flooding risks. Residents in coastal Alabama and Northwest Florida are urged to stay weather aware overnight and ensure they have multiple ways to receive warnings in case severe storms develop. The tornado watch covers counties shaded in yellow, with the entire WEAR viewing area under a level 2/5 severe storm risk. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted the region’s vulnerability to severe weather, emphasizing the need for preparedness as the storm system progresses.#alabama #storm_prediction_center #gulf_coast #mobile_county #northwest_florida
