NEW AT 12 AM SATURDAY: A Tornado Watch is out for the entire Tennessee Valley until 7 am Sunday morning. This replaces the ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch issued for parts of the area early this evening. While the PDS is no longer in effect, an isolated strong to intense tornado can’t be completely ruled out.
UPDATED: Strong to severe storms will move through our area Friday into Saturday. Stay alert as the Weather Authority updates this forecast.
Why nighttime tornadoes are a concern
The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted most of North Alabama under level 3 (ENHANCED) risk for severe storms Friday. A level 4 (MODERATE) risk is in place for northwest Alabama. The tornado risk across the area has increased for tonight. Cities in the orange and red outlooks have a 10 percent or greater chance of seeing an EF2 or stronger tornado within 25 miles of a point.
Storms will be possible during the evening but there will also be a line of storms that will move through overnight Friday into Saturday. The early evening chance is more conditional. IF any storm can develop Friday evening, it will be capable of damaging winds, heavy rain, large hail and/or a tornado.
In addition to the Friday evening storm threat, there will be a line of storms that will move through the Tennessee Valley, sometime from 12 a.m. through 5 a.m. Saturday.
As storms initially enter northwest Alabama late Friday night, they will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail and/or a tornado. Eventually, storms will merge into a line, the hail threat will lower and storms will be capable of damaging winds and a tornado. Rainfall amounts of 0.50 to one inch will be possible. Isolated higher totals of 1.5 inches may occur in repeated rounds of heavy rainfall.
A Wind Advisory is in effect until 1 p.m. Saturday. Sustained winds of 20-30 mph will be possible with gusts of 40-50 mph overnight. This is outside of any storms.
This type of wind could lead to downed trees in saturated soils as well as power outages. Download our Live Alert 19 weather app so you can have a way to get warnings.
Stay with the Weather Authority for the very latest on this severe weather threat.
