According to the National Weather Service, ‘significant’ severe weather is possible throughout Alabama today.
However, a small portion of the state has been upgraded to a rare high risk for severe storms, according to the latest update from the Storm Prediction Center, released just before 1 p.m. today:
The SPCA gives the color prospects for the entire U.S. forecasters there already a large part of Alabama on Tuesday a moderate risk.
A moderate risk is level 4 out of 5 and means widespread severe weather is likely to occur.
That’s bad enough. But the Storm Prediction Center in its forecast early this morning added the rare high risk for part of West Central Alabama.
A high risk is rare. This is level 5 out of 5 and means that ‘widespread severe storms are expected.’
These include strong long-distance tornadoes.
Here’s a look at the storm forecast categories of the Storm Forecast Center.
The high-risk area includes areas in the provinces of Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Greene and smaller parts of the provinces of Marion, Fayette and Tuscaloosa. However, this does NOT include the city of Tuscaloosa.
The national weather service in Birmingham is on board with the high-risk designation of the SPCA:
The Storm Prediction Center said today’s atmosphere is “worrying”.
“Widespread severe storms that can cause tornadoes (some of which can be intense), very large hail and intense damaging gusts are expected,” the SPCA said early this morning.
“More than one round of severe storms is possible during the afternoon to overnight over parts of Mississippi in Alabama.”
The latest update also expands the improved risk area further south and into the mobile area. An improved risk is level 3 out of 5.
The National Weather Service has strongly warned those in Alabama not to place a major focus on the category of severe weather risks.
Forecasters stressed that the entire state, regardless of category, is at risk for severe weather.
‘Do not focus on what color. it should not be your main focus. You have to be mainly prepared, ”weather service meteorologist Tara Goggins said in a Facebook Live session on Tuesday afternoon:
Tornadoes, damaging winds, hail and heavy rain will be possible across the country, forecasters said, and Alabamans should not be let down if they are not in the highest risk category.