Severe Storm Risk Tonight Across West Alabama

As the spring weather season rolls on, last night, severe thunderstorms impacted the Plains and the Midwest. There was even a “rare tornado emergency was issued for the storm that tore through Enid, Oklahoma, and the nearby Vance Air Force Base, warning of catastrophic damage and threat to life,” said The Weather Channel.

Closer to home, Alabama is facing the threat of severe weather across the Western portions of Central Alabama.

Risk Levels

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 out of 5 “marginal risk” for portions of Alabama and a Level 2 out of 5 “slight risk” for areas closer to the Mississippi border.

West Alabama Risk Zones

Bibb: Marginal Risk

Fayette: Marginal Risk

Greene: Marginal Risk with a small western portion under Slight Risk

Hale: Marginal Risk

Lamar: Slight Risk

Perry: Marginal Risk

Pickens: Slight Risk

Sumter: Slight Risk

Tuscaloosa: Marginal Risk

Walker: Marginal Risk

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Timeline

The current timeline provided by the National Weather Service in Birmingham is for this evening, Friday, April 24, starting at 6 p.m. and lasting through Saturday, April 25, at 1 a.m.

Possible Threats

• Damaging Winds
• Gusts up to 60 miles per hour

• Large Hail up to a Quarter-Size

“Some of the storms in West Alabama early tonight could produce strong, gusty winds... but they should weaken as they move deeper into the state,” said James Spann, Alabama Weather Network Chief Meteorologist. With limited instability and dynamic support, the overall severe threat is not especially high, and a tornado threat is not expected.

Next Week's Information

Looking ahead, a stretch of unsettled weather is expected, with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms from Tuesday through Friday.

For now, the Storm Prediction Center has dropped any severe weather risk for Monday, though that outlook could shift as conditions evolve. The Townsquare Media Weather Center will continue monitoring the latest data.

Spann said, “The air will be very unstable, and we could very well have a day or two with a severe thunderstorm threat, but it is simply too early to know which day will offer the highest risk of strong/severe storms.”