Severe storms across Alabama this evening

A risk of severe storms is in place across Alabama through this evening ahead of more storms early Thursday morning. Check the video forecast for the latest. ALERT DAY: WEDNESDAY NIGHT Severe storms with 60 mph wind gusts are moving east, southeast across north Alabama this evening. New development to the northwest of Birmingham will bring storms east through the short-term. A few storms may move south closer to Jefferson county before sunset and even isolated storms are possible around central Alabama after dark. Any of these storms may briefly become severe with damaging wind gusts and large hail. Another round of storms is forecast to arrive after midnight Thursday morning. Where is the threat? The Storm Prediction Center outlines an ENHANCED RISK (Level 3 of 5) for severe storms in the Tennessee Valley and our northern counties; Marion, Winston and Cullman. A SLIGHT RISK (Level 2 of 5) for Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Anniston, Gadsden, Alabaster and Talladega. Through this evening, storms are expected to stick around central Alabama. Places like Hamilton, Jasper, Cullman, Oneonta, Gadsden and even parts of Jefferson county could see storms linger for the next couple of hours. What kind of storms? Strong wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, intense lightning (10 to 20 strikes per minute - up to 1000 strikes per hour), and flash flooding are possible. An isolated, brief tornado can't be ruled out with the overnight storms.THURSDAY’S IMPACT WEATHER:Some storms rumble through North and Central Alabama early Thursday, and another round develops in the afternoon and evening. We see fewer storms over-all Thursday meaning more of us just stay dry and hot with a heat index over 100°F and a partly sunny sky. Storms move into Alabama after midnight and drift south through 6am. Thunderstorms exit by 8 a.m., and the sky becomes partly to mostly sunny for several hours. As a result, temperatures will climb near 90 degrees ahead of the next round of hit-or-miss storms. Action develops mainly north of the Birmingham area (Cullman-Gadsden-Huntsville-Scottsboro-Fort Payne-Centre) from around noon to 6 p.m. A storm is possible as far south as Tuscaloosa, Clanton, Alabaster, Sylacauga and Anniston through early evening. Where is the threat? The Storm Prediction Center outlines a MARGINAL RISK (Level 1 of 5) for severe storms from around Jefferson and Shelby Counties northeast into Georgia and Tennessee. The greatest concern is for areas near and north of US 278 in North Central and Northeast Alabama.What kind of storms? Thursday’s storms look more classic for August: developing in the daytime heat and moving slowly from northwest to southeast. They may produce 40-60 mph wind gusts, intense lightning, and some localized flooding.STORMS KEEP COMING THROUGH THE WEEKENDAn over-active August jet stream and a stubborn ‘high’ over the Southern Plains (the ridge we have often referenced this summer) keeps 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 Heavy rain may cause some localized flooding from any given thunderstorm. Hot, humid days in the 90s with a heat index near or above 100 degreesAway from the storms, it is hot! Expect high temperatures in the 90s through the weekend and a heat index that climbs as high as 105 degrees to 110 degrees again. That could mean another Heat Advisory or even an Excessive Heat Warning for western and Central Alabama over the weekend.Underneath the storms, the weather can be some of the nastiest you see all calendar year, with high wind gusts, lightning, and torrential rainfall. Storms like those last about 30 to 60 minutes, and then the weather is generally calm for the rest of the day.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.WHEN DOES THIS STORMY PATTERN END?Mark your calendar for Aug. 20.There is no such thing as a guarantee in a 10-12 day outlook, but confidence grows in a pattern shift that closes the door on the unusually stormy weather of late across the South.The ridge (mentioned above) redevelops over the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys putting Alabama in a much hotter, drier pattern.A ridge like that could dry us out rapidly and send temperatures soaring to near 100 degrees. On the flip side, the humidity drops somewhat: limiting showers and storms as well as making it a little easier to stay cool even as the temperature jumps higher.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.