By Jim Stefkovich, Meteorologist, Alabama Emergency Management Agency
CLANTON – March 18, 2018
There are two waves of potential severe weather. The first wave will affect near and in the yellow shaded area on the graphic below. This is basically for areas along and south of state highway 80/I-85.
Several clusters of storms will occurs, anytime from after 5 pm Sunday in the southwestern sections (west of I-65) until around 2 am in the eastern sections (east of I-65). The good news is severe weather will be isolated at best, with damaging straight-line winds and hail up to the size of quarters.
The second wave from Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning will be much stronger, with tornadoes and very large hail approaching two inches in diameter possible. The most likely areas for severe weather will be in the yellow and especially orange shaded areas, near and north of I-20. DON’T focus on exact locations for these colors, as they will likely change in later forecasts. Just realize the entire state has the potential for severe weather.
A broken line of supercell thunderstorms will begin moving into northwest AL after 2 pm Monday, moving southeast, and exiting the southeast sections around midnight. The map below shows the general timing of the storms.
Now is the time to begin preparations for severe weather, not when an actual warning is issued. For more information on being prepared, go to https://www.ready.gov/severe-weather
