Issued at 8:00 a.m. on 3/19/2018 – The National Weather Service WFO in Birmingham has all of central Alabama outlined in an area for severe weather development today. There are 2 different threat time frames for Elmore County for severe weather development. The first is the possibility for severe storm development out ahead of the front that will move through later and this development could be as early as 2:00 p.m. The second is the severe weather threat associated with the front as it moves through the area and this will be during the late evening or overnight hours. Most likely before midnight. All modes of severe weather are possible beginning with the early afternoon storms through the front moving through later this evening. Damaging winds, large hail and strong tornadoes are possible with this system. Below is the latest Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by the NWS along with a graphic describing the severe weather threats and the timing of the threats.
Please be weather aware today, monitoring for the watches and warnings and have your safety plan ready to go!
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
512 AM CDT Mon Mar 19 2018
ALZ011>015-017>050-201315-
Marion-Lamar-Fayette-Winston-Walker-Blount-Etowah-Calhoun-Cherokee-
Cleburne-Pickens-Tuscaloosa-Jefferson-Shelby-St. Clair-Talladega-
Clay-Randolph-Sumter-Greene-Hale-Perry-Bibb-Chilton-Coosa-Tallapoosa-
Chambers-Marengo-Dallas-Autauga-Lowndes-Elmore-Montgomery-Macon-
Bullock-Lee-Russell-Pike-Barbour-
512 AM CDT Mon Mar 19 2018
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the
National Weather Service office in Birmingham.
.DAY ONE…Outlook Through Tonight.
Dense fog will be possible across the southern half of Central
Alabama through 9 AM.
Severe storms are likely across all of Central Alabama, mainly
between 2 PM and 2 AM. These storms will be capable of producing
strong tornadoes, large hail up to the size of tennis balls, and
wind gusts to 70 mph. At this time, the threat appears to be along
and north of a Geiger to Auburn line, but all of Central Alabama
should remain aware of the severe thunderstorm potential through
tonight and take the appropriate precautionary measures. There is a
possibility that this risk may need to be upgraded, so keep up to
date on the forecast through the day.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Tuesday through Sunday.
Cooler air moving in behind the system will result in the potential
for lows at or below freezing across parts of north central Alabama
Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…
Activation of storm spotters and emergency management will be
needed this afternoon through the evening.
$$
