Alabama’s typically quieter “secondary” severe weather season may be about to become active this weekend. A series of disturbances could bring strong to severe storms, with the potential for tornadoes, damaging winds, and heavy rain.
Friday’s forecast shows a Level 1 (out of 5) severe weather risk for parts of west Alabama. While the National Weather Service in Mobile cautions that severe storms are not a certainty, if they develop, they are most likely to impact southern Alabama beginning Friday afternoon and lasting into the night.
Saturday presents a broader threat. A Level 2 severe weather risk is predicted for a small area in west Alabama, with a Level 1 risk covering most of the rest of the state. A cold front approaching Saturday is expected to trigger storm development, primarily during the afternoon and evening. The strongest storms could produce a couple of tornadoes, damaging winds up to 60 mph, and quarter-size hail. Again, however, the weather service emphasizes that the development of severe storms is not guaranteed; pre-existing rain could hinder storm formation.
By Sunday, drier and calmer weather is anticipated, moving from west to east across the state, along with milder temperatures. However, an unsettled weather pattern will persist, with another chance of rain predicted for Tuesday.
Local National Weather Service offices are providing more detailed updates: The NWS Huntsville office highlights a low chance of severe storms across North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon and night, with the potential for damaging winds, heavy rainfall (possibly leading to flash flooding), and isolated tornadoes. The NWS Birmingham office warns of possible severe storms across nearly all of Central Alabama Saturday afternoon and evening, with all severe weather hazards possible. The NWS Mobile office is focusing on the storm threat in southwest Alabama for Saturday.