Laura to bring the risk of severe weather to Alabama this afternoon, Friday and Saturday

Friday severe outlook update

The outer fringes of a weakening Laura will bring the risk of severe storms to north and north-central Alabama on Friday.

Hurricane Laura made landfall well to the west of Alabama early this morning, and now it has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but it could bring some rough weather to the state.

Tropical Storm Laura will continue to move northward over Louisiana, Texas and into Arkansas today, but the National Hurricane Center expects the weakening system to turn eastward on Friday and track across Tennessee and Kentucky.

Isolated to scattered rain and storms will be possible across the state today, and some of those have reached severe limits so far this afternoon.

In fact, the Storm Prediction Center as of 3 p.m. has added a marginal risk for severe weather to part of north and central Alabama:

Thursday severe weather outlook

The Storm Prediction Center has added a marginal risk for severe storms for central and north Alabama this afternoon and into tonight.

A marginal risk is Level 1 out of 5 and means isolated severe storms will be possible.

The weather service was tracking strong to severe storms in Alabama on Thursday afternoon from a far outer band of Laura’s that was tracking to the north. Those storms could have gusty winds up to 40 mph and torrential rain.

A better chance for severe weather will come on Friday and into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Some of the outer bands from Laura could make it into Alabama on Friday, and they could fire up a few strong storms.

Those storms could also have some spin to them, and that increases the threat for a few brief tornadoes as well.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has upgraded and expanded the severe weather risk for part of Alabama for Friday, and added a marginal risk for parts of the state for Saturday.

There will be a slight risk (Level 2 out of 5) for much of north and northwest Alabama on Friday. A slight risk means scattered severe storms will be possible.

Areas under a slight risk on Friday include Huntsville, Muscle Shoals, Florence and Decatur.

The rest of north and part of north-central Alabama will have a marginal risk on Friday.

The marginal risk area on Friday will be roughly along the Interstate 20/59 corridor and includes Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Cullman and Gadsden.

The National Weather Service said Laura’s outer bands could generate severe storms with damaging winds, and a brief tornado will also be possible.

Storms will be possible starting on Friday morning, but they will likely be the most intense and numerous on Friday afternoon when Alabama reaches peak heat and humidity levels.

The greatest risk will be near and northwest of Interstate 59.

The weather service also said heavy rain will be possible with those tropical rain bands.

Up to 2 inches of rain will be possible in some areas that end up under those storms.

There will also be a marginal risk for north and north-central Alabama again on Saturday as the remnants of Laura move away from Alabama and to the east:

Saturday severe weather outlook

North and north-central Alabama will have a marginal risk for severe weather on Saturday.

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