SEVERE WEATHER UPDATES:
7:47 p.m.: Multiple trees have been reported down in the Auburn area by emergency management. Trees and power lines have also been reported down along Lee County Road 252.
7:17 p.m.: The tornado warning for Lee County has been canceled.
6:46 p.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for northeastern Lee County:
As of 6:46 p.m. the storm was located near Beans Mill, or 7 miles east of Opelika, and was moving northeast at 25 mph. It’s a radar-indicated tornado, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.
2:40 p.m.: The National Weather Service in Birmingham has trimmed back the marginal risk area for part of central Alabama:
12:30 p.m.: Here’s a look at the storms ongoing across southwest Alabama as of Wednesday afternoon:
12:30 p.m.: The tornado warning has been canceled for all Alabama counties but severe storms are still in the region as of 12:30 p.m.
Noon: Severe storms have developed across southwest Alabama as of noon Wednesday.
A tornado warning is in effect for north-central Baldwin County and southwestern Escambia County until 12:45 p.m. (This warning has been canceled as of 12:30 p.m):
As of 11:56 a.m., severe thunderstorms capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located 7 miles northeast of Bay Minette, moving northeast at 20 mph.
The storm will be near the Poarch Creek Reservation around 12:25 p.m., Atmore, Interstate 65 and CR 1 and Bratt around 12:30 p.m. and Interstate 65 And AL 21 around 12:40 p.m.
Damage has been reported in the Bay Minette area, according to local EMA officials:
12:20 p.m.: The Storm Prediction Center is monitoring storm activity in Alabama but said there’s only a 20 percent chance a tornado or severe thunderstorm watch will be needed:
Forecasters expect more storms to develop through the afternoon, with damaging winds and hail the main concerns.
Original post:
A few strong to severe storms will be possible over the next two days across much of Alabama.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center thinks there’s a marginal risk for severe storms across a large part of the state both today and Thursday.
A marginal risk is Level 1 out of 5 and means that isolated severe storms will be possible.
South Alabama has a marginal risk through tonight (shown in the map at the top of this post), and all but south Alabama has a marginal risk on Thursday, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Here’s Thursday’s severe weather outlook (updated at 12:29 p.m. Wednesday):
There will be a marginal risk for severe weather across the areas in dark green on Thursday.
The strongest storms could bring damaging wind gusts as high as 60 mph, heavy rain and lightning. Thursday’s storms could bring some small hail as well.
The main window for storms will be in the afternoon and evening hours on both days, according to the National Weather Service.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center is already watching an area in west Alabama on Wednesday morning where heavy rain will be possible:
Forecasters said flash flooding could be possible from parts of west central Alabama all the way to the coast through early afternoon, with the potential for the heaviest rain along the coast.
An area of low pressure to the west of Alabama is responsible for this week’s rainy weather and could set off stronger storms today and Thursday.
Waves of energy are rotating around the slower-moving low and will affect Alabama through Thursday.
As for today, rain and storms are expected to increase in number through the day today and could form into a squall line by this afternoon and track through parts of Alabama.
More storms will be possible as the main low-pressure system moves across the region on Thursday.
Scattered rain and storms will be possible in parts of the state through Saturday, with drier conditions taking hold starting on Sunday.