Severe Storms Possible Across Central Alabama Tonight; Damaging Winds, Isolated Tornadoes Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to move across Central Alabama Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, bringing the potential for damaging winds, hail, and a few isolated tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of Central Alabama under a Level 1 to Level 2 risk for severe weather, indicating a marginal to slight chance of significant storms. Forecasters predict a cold front moving in from the west will bring a line of storms into northwest Alabama late this afternoon, around 3 to 4 p.m., before pushing southward through the evening and overnight hours. The primary threats include damaging straight-line winds, a few isolated tornadoes, and brief, minor flooding from heavy downpours. ABC 33/40 Chief Meteorologist James Spann emphasized the need for reliable weather alerts, recommending a NOAA Weather Radio and the Alabama Weather Network app. Storms are expected to exit southeast Alabama by around 8 a.m. Thursday. In addition to the severe weather threat, heavy rainfall could lead to localized flooding, particularly in areas that received 1 to 3 inches of rain earlier this week. Most locations are forecasted to receive 1 to 2 inches of rain, though some communities could see over 2 inches. The Weather Prediction Center has placed much of the region in a Level 1 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall. While widespread flooding is not expected, brief issues may develop in areas with poor drainage. After the storms move out, much cooler air will settle into Alabama. Highs on Thursday will be about 20 degrees cooler than Wednesday, with temperatures in the 50s across North Alabama.#storm_prediction_center #central_alabama #abc_33_40 #james_spann #weather_prediction_center
Wide Swath of the U.S. Faces Days of Severe Weather A major storm system is set to bring multiple days of severe weather across a large portion of the United States, with forecasters warning of significant risks through early next week. Friday is highlighted as one of the most dangerous days, with severe thunderstorms, large hail, damaging winds, flooding, and tornadoes expected to impact regions from Texas to the Great Lakes. The Storm Prediction Center has issued warnings that severe weather is likely each day for the next eight days, with Friday and Tuesday identified as the peak threat periods. Meteorologists attribute the severe conditions to a stalled weather front stretching across the Central United States, from the southern Plains to the Ohio Valley. This system is interacting with warm, moist air moving northward from the Gulf of Mexico, creating atmospheric instability that fuels severe thunderstorms. Enhanced risk warnings have been issued for Friday and Saturday, particularly in the southern and central Plains, including major cities such as Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has activated emergency resources to prepare for the storm. Forecasters warn that some of the strongest storms could produce tornadoes, wind gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour, and hail larger than two inches in diameter. Repeated thunderstorms also pose a risk of flash flooding, with the Weather Prediction Center indicating rainfall totals of up to two inches possible. Heavier precipitation, ranging from three to five inches, is expected in parts of northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Thursday and Friday. Additional areas at risk include parts of Missouri, Kentucky, and southern portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.#tornadoes #national_weather_service #storm_prediction_center #weather_prediction_center #governor_greg_abbott
