As of 8:00 p.m. July 19, 2018
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has made some changes to the Friday night severe forecast and added a severe threat for Saturday as well. Here’s a brief discussion of the forecast/changes.
Friday Night
Risk: Introduced an Enhanced Risk for the NW counties for potential widespread damaging winds. Our confidence is increasing in the damaging wind threat, but the placement of the highest risk is still uncertain.
Threats: Damaging winds main threat.
Location: All of Central AL, with the highest risk in the NW.
Timing: Roughly 9 PM north to 5 AM south. Times will likely be adjusted in future updates.
Saturday (low confidence)
Risk: Marginal Risk
Threats: Damaging winds, hail, tornado possible
Location: Most of Central AL, with the exception of the NW counties.
Timing: Saturday afternoon and evening
Below are some updated graphics and the latest HWO:
FLUS44 KBMX 200018
HWOBMX
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
718 PM CDT Thu Jul 19 2018
ALZ011>015-017>050-210330-
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-
718 PM CDT Thu Jul 19 2018
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the counties served by the National Weather Service office in Birmingham.
.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight.
No hazardous weather is expected at this time.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Friday through Wednesday.
The combination of high temperatures and humidity will push heat index values to around 105 degrees on Friday afternoon and again Saturday afternoon. This will occur generally west of a line from Eufaula to Alabaster to Hamilton.
Severe thunderstorms will be possible across all of Central Alabama Friday night into early Saturday morning. A line of storms with damaging winds may enter our northern counties as early as 9 PM Friday and continue southward through 5 AM Saturday. Currently the highest threat area appears to be along and northwest of Interstate 59, where widespread wind damage is possible.
Severe storms may develop again on Saturday afternoon and evening along and southeast of Interstate 59. These storms may be isolated to scattered in nature and capable of producing damaging winds, quarter size hail, and perhaps a tornado. Currently, forecast confidence in this scenario is low.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…
Activation of storm spotters and emergency management may be needed on Friday night and Saturday.
$$