Current observations show that the instability is continuing to increase out ahead of the line of storms, now up to 1000-1800 J/kg. Helicity values are still running high as well, up into the 250-500 m2s-2 range. Winds at the surface are currently out of the south but are veering out of the west-southwest at the 500mb level, or 18,000 feet. Dewpoints are in the upper 60s to the lower 70s from the AL/TN state line down to as far south as Troy and Eufaula. Conditions still show that the environment is favorable for severe thunderstorms with the possibility of rotating updrafts.
The good news is that it appears that the dynamics of the system is starting to lift farther to the north which is making the line a little weaker and draping more in a flattened orientation instead of the 45-degree angle you would like to see with a strong QLCS.
We may be dealing with more of a damaging wind threat as the line continues to push off to the east, but we will still have to watch for brief spin-ups within the line of storms. We’ll continue to keep you updated throughout the pre-dawn hours.
With that being said, there is a cell that is located in Lowndes County, Mississippi that will cross over in Lamar County that has a tornado warning issued on it. It has a little while before it makes it into the state, but if it holds together, a tornado warning will need to be issued for Lamar County.
NWS Huntsville has just cancelled the Tornado Watch for Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale counties. The Tornado Watch continues for Cullman, DeKalb, Jackson, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan counties in North Alabama, and for Blount, Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, and Winston counties until 6:00 am CST.
