Thunderstorms are already developing and becoming severe over the South early this morning.
A severe thunderstorm watch is being issued for parts of NW Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Illinois and Kentucky. It goes until 8 a.m.
Severe thunderstorm warnings have already been issued for parts of Northeast Mississippi and western Tennessee.
The storms are developing in a strong warm air advection pattern that is pulling copious amounts of wam, moisture laden Gulf air northward and destabilizing the atmosphere.
These initial storms are probably elevated in nature, but they will gradually become surface based. As they do, their main threats will go from being hail to the threat of damaging winds and even tornadoes overnight. The activity should be mainly confined to Mississippi, eastern Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, western Tennessee, southern Illinois, western Kentucky and even extreme Northwest Alabama.
Thunderstorms had developed over the western part of the state from Hale County, northward through Tuscaloosa County then up into parts of Walker, Marion and Franklin Counties.
The heaviest activity was back into NE Mississippi and western Tennessee for now. The storm moving out of Lee into Ittawamba County is a strong one…quarter sized hail was reported in Tupelo along with gusty winds. There was a severe thunderstorm warning for it, but the cell has weakened a bit and the warning was allowed to expire. It is moving toward Franklin and Colbert Counties in NW Alabama.
Benton and Marshall Counties in North Mississippi are now under a severe thunderstorm warning for a rapidly intensifying storm south of Holly Springs. It has hail to the size of golfballs potentially.
The storm near Jackson TN is severe also.
Storms will continue through the overnight hours as the warm front moves NE. They will reach as far east as I-65 overnight. There is a chance of a one becoming severe over NW Alabama.
We are now under a HIGH RISK outlook for severe weather later today across nearly all of Alabama.
Behind the warm front, we will have several hours for the airmass to recharge. If it does so, we could have sufficient instability for a major outbreak of severe weather, including the possibility of large tornadoes. Needless to say, all Alabamians must think through the personal tornado safety plans, stay in constant touch with a reliable source for weather information and be ready to act at a moments notice today.
JB and I will have frequent blog updates throughout the day until the event is finished.
