No big thunderstorms in Alabama as of 9:45, in fact, not even any showers.
However, a big glob of storms, strong ones, are on our front door step at the NW tip of the state moving out of West Tennessee and the NE corner of Mississippi. The favored direction of movement today is from NW to SE.
The National Weather Service in Huntsville has already issued a Special Weather Statement to cover the strong storms crossing the border. Winds up to 40 mph, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning and heavy downpours will be the standard ingredients for these storms today. Often, when we have a big gang of strong storms intruding into a heat wave, the lightning becomes something to behold.
Even on an ordinary thunderstorm day, the lightning is always dangerous. For the remainder of today and tonight, the lightning will be popping as fast as thunder on the mountain–the July 4 fireworks on Birmingham’s Red Mountain.
Extreme NW Alabama communities subject to getting the thunderstorms first:
Waterloo
Riverton
Wright
Treet
Hate to tell you this, but be prepared for a barrage of Significant Weather Alerts as the afternoon goes on as well as Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.
STORM PREDICTION CENTER (SPC)
All day yeseterday they had North Alabama, from about Birmingham northward, outlooked for a Slight Risk of severe weather today. In there updated analysis this morning, they have expanded it to include the entire state.
TUSCALOOSA/BIRMINGHAM/ANNISTON TIMELINE
Most of our rough stuff will be this afternoon extending into the evening. Don’t be surprised to see the first warnings in our area by this afternoon.
We will be working our little fingers off this afternoon and tonight, skipping meals and naps, to keep you informed.
