A “significant” severe climate will be possible in ALL of Alabama today, according to the National Weather Service.
However, a small part of the state has been upgraded to a rare high risk of severe storms, according to the latest update from the Storm Prediction Center, released just before 1 am today:
The SPC releases color-coded severe weather forecasts for the entire US. Meteorologists had already upgraded much of Alabama to moderate risk for severe weather on Tuesday.
A moderate risk is Level 4 out of 5 and means that there is a likelihood of widespread severe weather.
This is bad enough. But the Storm Prediction Center in its forecast earlier this morning added the rare high risk to part of midwest Alabama.
A high risk is rare. It is level 5 out of 5 and means “severe widespread storms are expected.”
This includes strong, long-haul tornadoes.
Here is a look at the Storm Prediction Center’s severe weather risk categories.
The high-risk area includes areas in the counties of Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Greene and smaller parts of the counties of Marion, Fayette and Tuscaloosa. However, it does NOT include the city of Tuscaloosa.
The National Weather Service in Birmingham is on board with the SPC’s high risk designation:
The Storm Prediction Center said today’s atmospheric configuration was “worrying”.
“Severe widespread storms capable of producing tornadoes (several of which can be intense), very large hail and intense and damaging gusts of wind are expected,” said the SPC earlier this morning.
“More than a round of severe storms is possible in parts of Mississippi in Alabama during the afternoon and into the early hours.”
The latest update also extends the enhanced risk area further south and into the Mobile area. An increased risk is Level 3 of 5.
The National Weather Service strongly warned those in Alabama not to place too much focus on the severe climate risk category.
Meteorologists emphasized that the entire state is at risk of severe weather, regardless of category.
“Don’t focus on the color…. this should not be your primary focus. Your main focus should be preparation, ”said meteorologist from the meteorological service Tara Goggins in a Facebook Live session on Tuesday afternoon:
Tornadoes, damaging winds, hail and heavy rains will be possible across the state, meteorologists said, and Alabamians should not let their guard down if they are not in the highest risk category.