Alabama gets slammed with more severe storms on Wednesday and Thursday

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Impact Day: More severe storms expected Wednesday and Thursday

SIMPSON JOINING US RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT’S NOT OUT OF HERE YET. IT’S A NICE EVENING TONIGHT, BUT DON’T LET THAT FOOL YOU. YEAH, WE HAD THE HEALTHY RAIN EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. IT’S GONE. WE’VE GOT A NICE, ALMOST CRYSTAL CLEAR EVENING AHEAD AS THE CUMULUS CLOUDS START TO FADE AWAY. AND ON WVTM 13, LIVE DOPPLER RADAR, THERE’S NOTHING OF ANY CONSEQUENCE, BUT THERE’S STILL A HEALTHY LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT STARTED OVER US EARLIER TODAY, STARTED RAMPING UP A LOT OF LIGHTNING AROUND THE BIRMINGHAM JEFFERSON COUNTY, SHELBY COUNTY AREA. AND NOW THAT IS DOWN CLOSE TO THE ATLANTIC COAST. WE’RE WATCHING DISTURBANCES TO THE NORTHWEST, THOUGH, THAT ARE GOING TO ENSURE WE HAVE MORE ACTIVE WEATHER WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. AND SOME OF US ARE GOING TO GET WALLOPED AGAIN WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND IMPACT DAY TOMORROW. MORE HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY, BUT AWAY FROM THOSE STORMS AS IT GETS HOT, THE HIGH AT 91, HEAT INDEX, ABOUT 95 TO 100 TOMORROW AFTERNOON. SO THERE ARE TWO IMPACT DAYS THIS WEEK, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. LET’S START TOMORROW, 1 P.M. TO 10 P.M. WE WATCH THIS ZONE FIRST. THIS IS WHERE THE MORE NUMEROUS, MOST POWERFUL THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY. SO TENNESSEE AND NORTHWEST ALABAMA PROBABLY GET THE WORST OF THIS. BUT AS THE STORMS MOVE SOUTHEAST THROUGH HUNTSVILLE, DECATUR, DOWN TO CULLMAN, OVER TO HOLLY POND, BOAZ ALBERTVILLE, GUNTERSVILLE, ARAB AND UP TOWARD DEKALB COUNTY, THERE’S STILL A SUBSTANTIAL THREAT THAT SOME OF THOSE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE THROUGH TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE GENERAL TIMELINE HERE, ABOUT 1 TO 6 P.M. OVER NORTHWEST ALABAMA, 5 TO 10 P.M. FOR TUSCALOOSA, BIRMINGHAM, PELL CITY, GADSDEN AND JACKSONVILLE. YOU GET CLOSER TO ANNISTON AND OXFORD. I THINK IT’S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE EVENING BEFORE THOSE STORMS SLOWLY MOVE DOWN TOWARD THE SOUTH AND THEY WILL BE MUCH MORE ISOLATED DOWN HERE IN THE GREEN ZONE WHERE WE’RE IN THAT LEVEL. ONE THREAT. SO FOR BIRMINGHAM, FOR CHELSEA, FOR TUSCALOOSA, EVEN FOR FAYETTE AND JASPER, IT MAY BE MOST OF THE DAY DRY. BEFORE WE START TO SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT THUNDERSTORMS. AND I THINK THE STRONG STORMS ARE MOST LIKELY IN THE RED SHADED AREA HERE. THIS AGAIN, WEDNESDAY, 1 P.M. TO 10 P.M. NORTHWEST ALABAMA, FIRST WORKING SOUTHEAST ON THROUGH THE EVENING THURSDAY, ANOTHER IMPACT DAY, THIS ONE FROM NOON TO 6 P.M. THESE WILL NOT BE QUITE AS WIDESPREAD. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT DAY BECAUSE IT’S JUST GOING TO BE HOT HEAT INDEX 100 TO 105 ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON. SO FROM ABOUT 12 P.M. TO 6 P.M., A WIDESPREAD RED AREA HERE WHERE SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP, MAINLY NORTHEAST OF BIRMINGHAM. SOME OF THOSE COULD BE SEVERE WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. LET’S LOOK AT SPECIFICALLY WHAT COMES THROUGH HERE ON WEDNESDAY. AND SOME OF THESE WILL PACK A PUNCH. BUT THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY IS QUIET. YOU GOT SOMETHING TO DO OUTSIDE. IT’S GOING TO BE HOT, BUT DO IT EARLY, 11 P.M. OR 11 A.M. TO NOON. THINGS STILL PRETTY QUIET. SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS MAY POP UP HERE AND THERE IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON. AND THEN HERE COMES THE HEAVY BATCH OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH EARLY EVENING. AND FROM JEFFERSON UP THROUGH BLOUNT, SAINT CLAIR, CALHOUN, ETOWAH, CHEROKEE COUNTIES. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE EVEN AS LATE AS 7 OR 8:00 TOMORROW EVENING. AND TOTAL RAINFALL OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHAT SPORADIC. SOME AREAS ARE GOING TO GET TREMENDOUS 3 TO 5 INCH RAINS. SOME ARE GOING TO GET A LOT LESS. AND THIS IS SMOOTHED OUT. IT REALLY WON’T LOOK MUCH LIKE THAT. BUT WHAT YOU SEE IS THE POTENTIAL AND THE RANGE THAT WE GET FROM A FRACTION OF AN INCH ALL THE WAY UP WELL OVER 1 OR 2IN OF RAIN THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK AS THE SCATTERED STORM MACHINE JUST NEVER QUITE SHUT DOWN A

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Impact Day: More severe storms expected Wednesday and Thursday

A steady soaking rain eliminated the risk of severe storms for most of North and Central Alabama today, but Wednesday brings another Impact Day with strong storms, gusty winds, and intense lightning. Check the video forecast for the latest.QUIET TUESDAY NIGHTBirmingham’s highest temperature Tuesday only reached 81°F before the rain began, and that steady soaking dropped nearly one inch of rain in several communities from Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties eastward through Jefferson and Shelby Counties by early afternoon. The sky becomes mostly clear and temperatures down in the upper 60s and lower 70s by sunrise Wednesday. Expect some patchy fog in the morning as well. IMPACT DAYS AHEAD: The summer storm pattern does not give up this week, and Alabama faces at least two more rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms through Thursday.Wednesday Patchy fog is likely to develop overnight after today's steady rain across the northern half of the state. Wednesday morning begins partly sunny and humid with temperatures sitting in the low 70s. Ahead of any storms, temperatures could climb near 90 degrees by the early afternoon. Another long-lived wave of thunderstorms develops northwest of Alabama early Wednesday and moves southeast into the state through early afternoon. Where are storms most likely? North of I-20. Places like Jasper, Cullman, Gadsden and northward. Any storms that make it further south to central Alabama may briefly become severe with high wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, small hail, and the usual lightning and heavy rainfall we have come to expect from these downpours.Thursday Fewer storms are expected Thursday but an ample amount of heat and moisture at the surface will provide sufficient energy for a few strong storms. As the heat ridge reaches to Alabama from the west, chances at rain usually drop but a continued northwest flow pattern will help sneak storms into the state mainly in the afternoon. Heat and humidity stay in place with highs reaching the low 90s. With more sun, the heat index demands attention. The "feels like" may approach values closer to triple digits.Summertime thunderstorms can be very intense. You don't have to cancel outdoor plans, but always be aware of impacts for your location. Avoid exposure outside when the storms are passing through. Get the free WVTM 13 app and turn on the alerts for the latest weather updates in your neighborhood.STILL STORMY THROUGH THE WEEKENDAn over-active August jet stream and a stubborn ‘high’ over the Southern Plains (the ridge we have often referenced this summer) keep the storm track aimed directly at Alabama through the weekend. That means more of the same heat, humidity, and daily threats of scattered thunderstorms. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all look similar: A chance of some scattered storms A limited chance that a storm is severe near your location Hot, humid days in the 90s with a heat index near or above 100 degreesThursday’s chance of rain is the lowest of the week; after that, it’s back to the expectation of at least some daily rain and storms in the area.Bottom line: it is impossible to know more than 12 hours in advance precisely where one of these storms will hit. We have very general ideas for timing and impacts, but flexibility is necessary to bob and weave around these things: to limit your exposure to some of the meanest, nastiest storms you might encounter all year.Be prepared for stormy days ahead.CLICK TO SEE THE 7-DAY FORECASTSTAY WEATHER AWARE For the latest Birmingham weather information and central Alabama's certified most accurate forecast, watch WVTM 13 News.Current Weather ConditionsHourly Forecast | 10-Day ForecastInteractive RadarBirmingham SkycamsLive Doppler RadarSign Up For Email Weather AlertsDownload the WVTM 13 AppDon't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

QUIET TUESDAY NIGHT

Birmingham’s highest temperature Tuesday only reached 81°F before the rain began, and that steady soaking dropped nearly one inch of rain in several communities from Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties eastward through Jefferson and Shelby Counties by early afternoon.

The sky becomes mostly clear and temperatures down in the upper 60s and lower 70s by sunrise Wednesday. Expect some patchy fog in the morning as well.

IMPACT DAYS AHEAD:

The summer storm pattern does not give up this week, and Alabama faces at least two more rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms through Thursday.

Wednesday

Patchy fog is likely to develop overnight after today's steady rain across the northern half of the state. Wednesday morning begins partly sunny and humid with temperatures sitting in the low 70s. Ahead of any storms, temperatures could climb near 90 degrees by the early afternoon.

alabama weather forecast

Another long-lived wave of thunderstorms develops northwest of Alabama early Wednesday and moves southeast into the state through early afternoon. Where are storms most likely? North of I-20. Places like Jasper, Cullman, Gadsden and northward. Any storms that make it further south to central Alabama may briefly become severe with high wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, small hail, and the usual lightning and heavy rainfall we have come to expect from these downpours.

alabama weather forecast

Thursday

Fewer storms are expected Thursday but an ample amount of heat and moisture at the surface will provide sufficient energy for a few strong storms. As the heat ridge reaches to Alabama from the west, chances at rain usually drop but a continued northwest flow pattern will help sneak storms into the state mainly in the afternoon.

alabama weather forecast

Heat and humidity stay in place with highs reaching the low 90s. With more sun, the heat index demands attention. The "feels like" may approach values closer to triple digits.

Summertime thunderstorms can be very intense. You don't have to cancel outdoor plans, but always be aware of impacts for your location. Avoid exposure outside when the storms are passing through. Get the free WVTM 13 app and turn on the alerts for the latest weather updates in your neighborhood.

STILL STORMY THROUGH THE WEEKEND

An over-active August jet stream and a stubborn ‘high’ over the Southern Plains (the ridge we have often referenced this summer) keep the storm track aimed directly at Alabama through the weekend.

That means more of the same heat, humidity, and daily threats of scattered thunderstorms.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all look similar:

A chance of some scattered storms
A limited chance that a storm is severe near your location
Hot, humid days in the 90s with a heat index near or above 100 degrees

Thursday’s chance of rain is the lowest of the week; after that, it’s back to the expectation of at least some daily rain and storms in the area.

Bottom line: it is impossible to know more than 12 hours in advance precisely where one of these storms will hit. We have very general ideas for timing and impacts, but flexibility is necessary to bob and weave around these things: to limit your exposure to some of the meanest, nastiest storms you might encounter all year.

Be prepared for stormy days ahead.